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Little fallout as Rankin forgoes annual booze ban

Chris Windeyer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Jan 08/07) - Rankin Inlet skipped its annual holiday alcohol restrictions this year, leading to some extra work for police but no major problems, according to the RCMP.

"It was moderately busier," said Sgt. Gavin Nash, who added that virtually all of the extra holiday police work was alcohol related, with mischief and public drunkenness among the chief problems.

Police juggled officers' schedules on New Year's Eve to ensure there was adequate resources, Nash said.

Hamlet council voted in December to go without the ban, which in 2005 lasted from Dec. 19 until Jan. 2.

Acting senior administrative officer Lyne Toner said some councillors were told by constituents that the alcohol ban led to people stocking up on Christmas liquor, which in turn led to break-ins.

Deputy mayor Hamish Tatty, a long-time opponent of the ban, said his constituents reported a quiet holiday season.

"It should be up to the people of the community to decide if they want to drink or not, not the elected officials," Tatty said. Mayor Lorne Kusugak was travelling and couldn't be reached for comment.

Nash wouldn't attribute the holiday workload to a change in the alcohol ban, saying the measure can be a double-edge sword.

"It limits the amount of liquor coming in, but sometimes it could be looked on as being bad because the bootleggers will stock up and supply people anyway," he said.