Inuvik (July 21/06) - The Cabin Lounge has increased the price of its weekly drink specials, and it has some customers looking for a new place to wet their whistles.

The lounge, located in the Finto Lodge, has offered "cheap drink" specials on alcohol for 10 years.

Tyra Hudson is one of the bartenders at the Cabin Lounge. The bar recently raised prices on some of its nightly specials, which have been in place for the last 10 years. The change has been in the works for a while, and some customers believe the move will hurt their business. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Tuesday nights are dedicated to scotch, which was reduced from the regular $5.25 per shot to just $2 for an ounce. This has now increased to $3.

Thursday nights focused on all hard alcohol, ranging from rums to liqueurs for just $3 per shot - hence the nickname "three pour." Those drinks normally sell for $5.25 as well.

The cost of the specials went up to $4 a drink on July 13, a $1 increase. Regular prices weren't changed.

Cabin bartender Tyra Hudson explained that the increases were long overdue.

"Prices of alcohol have gone up significantly in the last 10 years," said Hudson.

The scotch night started in 1996, with the "three pour" Thursdays starting in 2000.

Hudson has been at the bar for the past two years, and said that the Thursday special attracted a lot of people to the lounge.

"It's great working here; I get to meet so many different people," said Hudson. "You see people from many different lines of work."

Customers of the lounge have mixed reactions about the recent decision to increase the drink costs.

"It costs more to bring out friends for the Thursday night drinks," said Logan Bullock.

Bullock, who has been going out to the Thursday night special with friends for the past few years, said the price change may deter customers.

"I bet those people will start drinking at home more often as an alternative," he said.

The special had become a good way to meet up with friends, and enjoy a night out without spending lots of cash, said Bullock.

"It was really popular for a long time," said Bullock.

"I see it as financial suicide, and it means more money for the liquor store from personal sales."

Krystal Manuel is a former customer, who had friends who worked behind the bar.

She doesn't see a change in their business as a result of the price change.

"I stopped going after my friend left town, but I used to go with large groups of people," said Manuel.

"I don't really think this makes a difference though, it's just another dollar."

Manuel liked ordering a "cream soda," which was one of her favourite drinks, made of 7-Up, sourpuss and creme d'banane.

Rumours about the change circulated around town weeks before it happened, said Kristian Binder. "I heard that the price was going up, but never heard anything definite until last week," said Binder.

"They have good friendly service, and that won't change, so I don't see it making too much of a difference."

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said the special was a good rendezvous for young people.

"It drew in a lot of the younger crowd, because it's typically the younger people who take advantage of the cheap drink specials," she said.