Education and enforcement

UPDATE: The Liquor Act has been updated so that NWT Liquor Enforcement and the Liquor Licensing Board operate independently of one another. Liquor enforcement personnel are responsible for monitoring the industry and reporting alleged violations, which are then heard by the Board in its role as an independent body. Separating the Board from enforcement is necessary to remove any perceived conflict of interest and to ensure the Board remains impartial

The Northwest Territories (NWT) Liquor Enforcement division is administered through the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Finance. 

What does NWT Liquor Enforcement do?

The goal of the NWT Liquor Enforcement is to reduce liquor-related threats to public safety such as service to minors and excessive intoxication. We do this by:

  • providing Certificate Alcohol Server Courses;
  • working with Communities to obtain Temporary Prohibitions and conduct Plebiscites;
  • training and supervising nine contract Liquor Inspectors throughout the NWT; and
  • liasing with the RCMP, Office of the Fire Marshall, Department of Health and Social Services, and Environmental Health to ensure voluntary compliance with the NWT Liquor Act and NWT Liquor Regulations in Licensed Premises and Special Occasion Permitted events.