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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT Liquor Licensing Board has introduced application deadlines for special occasion permits.

Implemented on Aug. 18, the amendments were made to allow RCMP to prepare for the licensed events in advance.

Tyler Smith and Lydia Lewis say changes to liquor regulations require they do a little more advance planning for their wedding reception in Yellowknife this month. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo Liquor permits for special events fall under three categories: Ordinary - Events where liquor is given away for free. For example, an anniversary party. Resale, not for profit - Events where liquor is sold where permit holders can recoup money or charge a small fee for liquor but cannot make a profit. Resale, for profit - Events where liquor is sold for profit, such as fundraising events. Permit holders must be a registered charity or an incorporated association.

"Up until now there hadn't been deadlines in the old regulations," said Don Kindt, chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board. "Somebody holding an event may have sold tickets for 600 people and they're applying a couple days ahead of time. This is clearly not a good situation. We need adequate time for the RCMP to adjust their schedules.

"If you're having a concert in a small community in a big arena, the police might need to reshuffle and bring somebody in to help them deal with the extra people."

Now applications for permits for events holding less than 200 people are due five days in advance. Permits for events holding 200 to 500 people must be applied for 14 days in advance and permits for events holding more than 500 people must be applied for 45 days in advance.

Advertising is also included in the amendments. Event organizers are not allowed to advertise that liquor will be available until they have been granted a permit.

"There have been instances in the past where things have been a little problematic," said Kindt. "They were legal, but they have been problematic. Nobody has done anything wrong because there was no legal requirement to do things a certain way.

"There were rules, but they weren't working as well as they should."

At least one couple in town doesn't feel the changes to permitting will be that difficult to handle.

Lydia Lewis and Tyler Smith live in Yellowknife but plan to get married in P.E.I. on Oct. 18.

"We're having a dry wedding in P.E.I.," said Lewis. "We will have a reception in Yellowknife in November. We'll probably have alcohol there. The new liquor permit requirements are not a big deal. We'll just have to plan for it. We've been planning this wedding for eight months so a little extra planning is not so bad."