Communities in the Northwest Territories are able to choose whether or not they will permit alcohol to be brought into the community or if the quantity of alcohol will be restricted or unrestricted. For more information and details by community, please refer to the information below.

Background

Communities in the Northwest Territories are classed as either:

Unrestricted

There are no restrictions beyond those that are described in the Liquor Act and Regulations.

Restricted

The restriction may limit the quantity and/or frequency of alcohol brought into a community; limit the quantity and hours of sale at a liquor store or require individuals to seek prior approval from a community alcohol education committee to bring in a limited amount of alcohol into a community.

Prohibited

There is a complete ban on alcohol being brought into the community.

Current status

Unrestricted

• Aklavik
• Behchokǫ̀
• Enterprise
• Fort Providence*
• Fort Resolution
• Fort Simpson*
• Fort Smith*
• Hay River*
• Inuvik*
• Jean Marie River
• Kakisa
• Norman Wells*
• Sachs Harbour
• Tsiigehtchic
• Wrigley
• Yellowknife*    

*These communities have licensed premises and/or a liquor store/liquor warehouse.

Restricted Communities

There are two types of restrictions that can apply:

• Through community options; or
• The Minister may impose a restriction on the operating hours of a liquor store and/or the amount of liquor to be purchased in a certain period.

Colville Lake

No person shall bring, within a radius of 25km from the Community Hall, in any seven-day period, a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amounts described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1: 1.14 L of spirits and 24 containers of  beer, each with a volume of 355 ml;
• Combination 2: 2 L of wine and 24 containers of  beer, each with a volume of 355 ml;

Combinations do not apply to a person authorized by the Behdzi Adha’First Nation Band Council to bring into and possess in the restricted area greater quantities of liquor for consumption at a wedding, community dance or other special event.

Déline

No person shall bring, within a radius of 25km of the Déline Got’ine Government John Tetso office building, in any 24-hour period, a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amounts described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1: 1140 ml of spirits and 12 x 355 ml containers of beer;
• Combination 2: 1140 ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Combination 3: 12 x 355 ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Combination 4: 24 x 355 ml containers of beer and one litre of wine.

Combinations do not apply to a person authorized by the Déline Got’ine Government to bring into and possess in the restricted area greater quantities of liquor for consumption at a wedding, community dance or other special event.

Dettah

No person shall at any time have in his or her possession in, or in any month take into Dettah a quantity of liquor that is in excess of the following combinations:

• Twelve 355 ml containers of beer and one 750 ml container of spirits; or
• 4,500 ml of wine in sealed containers.

Fort Good Hope

No person shall, in any seven-day period, possess within 25km of the Fort Good Hope Community Complex, a quantity of liquor in excess of one unit of liquor of the following types:

• Type 1: 1140 ml of spirits and one dozen 355 ml containers of beer;
• Type 2: 1140 ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Type 3: one dozen 355 ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Type 4: two dozen 355 ml containers of beer and one litre of wine.

Fort Liard

No person shall purchase, sell or transport within a radius of 15km of the building in the Hamlet of Fort Liard commonly known as the Community Centre, more liquor in one week than any three units of the following types:

• Type 1: 1140 ml of spirits;
• Type 2: two dozen 355 ml containers of beer;
• Type 3: two 750 ml containers of wine.

The restriction does not apply to the purchase, sale or transport of liquor by the Municipal Council or Band Council where liquor shall be consumed at community dances.

Fort McPherson

No person shall bring, within a radius of 25km of the Tetlit Co-op Store of the Hamlet, in any seven-day period:

• a quantity of spirits in excess of 2280 ml.
• no person shall operate within the restricted area a vehicle having two or more occupants and transporting a quantity of spirits that exceed 4560ml.

The restriction does not apply to a person authorized by the Hamlet Council to bring into the restricted area a greater quantity of spirits for consumption at a wedding, community event or other special occasion.

Paulatuk

No person shall bring, within a radius of 2km of the Paulatuk Hamlet Office, in any seven-day period, a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amounts described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1: 1140 ml of spirits and 12 x 355 containers ml of beer;
• Combination 2: 1140 ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Combination 3: 12 x 355 ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Combination 4: 24 x 355 ml containers of beer and 750 ml of spirits;
• Combination 5: 1175 ml of spirits.

Sambaa Ke

No person shall bring, within 15km of the Sambaa K’e Dene Band Administration Office, in any 24-hour period, a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amount described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1: 750 ml of spirits and 12 x 355 ml containers of beer;
• Combination 2: 750 ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Combination 3: 12 x 355 ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Combination 4: 24 x 355 ml containers of beer and one litre of wine.

Tuktoyaktuk

No person shall bring into, or possess, at any time, within a 25 km of the Tuktoyaktuk Hamlet Office:

• a quantity of spirits in excess of 2280 ml

No person shall, within the restricted area, operate a vehicle:

• having one to three adult occupants and transporting a quantity of spirits that exceed 2280ml per adult occupant; or
• having four or more adult occupants and transporting a quantity of spirits that exceeds 9120 ml.

The restriction does not apply to a person authorized by the Hamlet Council to bring into the restricted area a greater quantity of spirits for consumption at a wedding, community event or other special event.

Tulita

No person shall bring, within a radius of 25km of the Tulita Dene Band Office, in any 24 hour period,  a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amounts described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1: 1140 ml of spirits and 12 x 355 ml containers of beer;
• Combination 2: 1140 ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Combination 3: 12 x 355 ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Combination 4: 24 x 355 ml containers of beer and one litre of wine.

Ulukhaktok

No person shall bring, within a radius of 2 km from the Ulukhaktok Hamlet Office, in any seven-day period, a quantity of liquor that exceeds the amounts described in any one of the following combinations:

• Combination 1:1183 ml of spirits and sixteen 355ml containers of beer;
• Combination 2: 1183ml of spirits and two litres of wine;
• Combination 3: sixteen 355ml containers of beer and two litres of wine;
• Combination 4: twenty-four 355 ml containers of beer and 750ml of spirits.

The restriction does not apply to a person authorized by the Hamlet Council to bring into the restricted area a greater quantity of spirits for consumption at a wedding, community event or other special event.

Prohibited Communities    

A prohibition may include the consumption, possession, purchase, sale or transport of liquor into a community. Any liquor being transported through a prohibited area must be sealed during the time the traveler is in the prohibited area.

Gamètì

Prohibited area lies within a 20 km of the building in Gamètì commonly known as the Gamètì School

Lutselk'e

Prohibited area lies within a radius of 25 km of the building in Lutselk'e commonly known as the
Community Hall

Guests and other persons who does not reside within the Prohibited Area may sell and purchase liquor at the Frontier Fishing Lodge for consumption within the lodge or its immediate precincts. The owner/operator may transport, arrange for transport of liquor required to stock, provided that no seals on any of the liquor containers are broken

No person who is a resident of the prohibited area and who works in or is a guest of the lodge shall purchase, sell or consume any liquor in the prohibited area and in particular lodge.

Nahanni Butte

Prohibited area lies within a radius of 15km from the building in the community commonly known as the Old School.

Wekweètì

Prohibited area lies within a radius of 30 km from the Wekweètì Community Office Building.

Whatì

Prohibited area lies within a radius of 25 km from the building in Whatì commonly known as the Mezi Community School.

K'atl'odeeche First Nation

K'atl'odeeche First Nation is prohibited under the Indian Act of Canada.