Ahousaht First Nation wins change to limit sales of hard liquor in Tofino, B.C.

As of Tuesday, there are limits on the number of bottles of spiritsa person can buyat the B.C. Liquor store in Tofino, a move that leaders of the Ahousaht First Nation werepushing for.

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said the limits apply to all customers at thestore.Individuals canpurchase a maximum of four bottles of spirits of any type packaged in plastic bottles of any size. Theregulations do not apply to hospitality orders and special event permits.

Ahousaht Elected Chief Councillor Naasathluk (John Rampanen) said the First Nationhad beenadvocating fora limiton alcoholsales per person.Naasathluk said Ahousahthas beenconsidered a "dry reserve" for a number of years but bootleggingcontinuesto flourish.

"It's a reality that our community faces on a daily basis, if not weekly," said Naasathluk.

Naasathluk said the change wasa work in progress with the solicitor's general's office and he sees it as a win for Ahousaht a community accessible only by boat, located about 20kilometres from Tofino,the closest municipality.

Naasathluk said alcohol has beena contributing factor to many deaths in the community in recent years.

"We have experienced a very disproportionate rate of loss of life over the last several years," said Naasathluk.

Ahousaht has about 1,000 year-round residents and isunder a state of emergency put in place inSeptember after two young people in the community died within hours of each other in separate incidents.

"That cascaded into several other losses in our community, over the last two months, and now we're starting to see stabilization gradually resume in community," said Naasathluk.

Naasathluk said since the state of emergency things areimproving with increased medical and mental health support from the province, and the changes to the liquor sales arepart of that.

More servicesneeded

Naasathluk said the community needs moreservices for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction in the community and they are working on implementing more harm reduction strategies. A new wellness centre wasrecently built, which Naasathluk said will open soon.

Hereditary Chief of the Ahousaht First NationHasheukumiss (Richard George)said, "This is not by any means going to solve our situation, it is going to slow it down to be more manageable."

Hasheukumiss said alcohol has beena problem in the community for many years and he has written several letters to the minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General on behalf of the hereditary chiefs explaining the devastating impacts bootlegging hason Ahousaht.

Hasheukumiss said there was nothing stopping bootleggers from purchasing large amounts of alcohol at the B.C. liquor stores and reselling it on reserve.

"It's a gigantic step for this province to acknowledge this loophole," said Hasheukumiss.

"It's a loophole that can be fixed with a stroke of a pen."

Tofino MayorDan Law said in a statement to CBCNewsthat the municipalityis in support of the liquor purchase limits.