'There's still booze coming in': Behchoko votes to drop its alcohol ban

People in Behchoko, N.W.T., have voted to lift an alcohol ban that has been in effect in their community for seven years.

In a plebiscite held Monday, residents voted 346 to 95 in favour of lifting the ban. Only 33 per cent of people eligible to vote cast ballots.

"It's clear what the public wants," said Chief Clifford Daniels. He says people saw the ban as an ineffective way to combat binge drinking.

"There's still drinking. There's still booze coming in. There were lots of charges in court docket related to prohibition," he said during an interview the morning after the vote. The community is just an hour's drive down the highway from Yellowknife, where any amount of alcohol can be bought legally.

Daniels cautioned that the ban will remain in effect for a few months, while necessary legislative changes are made.

He said this is the latest in a long line of changes to the rules governing liquor consumption in the community.

"It's nothing that new. It's something we've had before. We're just going to try to deal with it in a better manner," he said. "It's time to to educate people away from binge drinking. You don't have to drink that way."