Why a Behchoko youth worker is in favour of lifting the liquor ban

Mason Mantla, a youth worker from Behchoko, said he was "shocked" when his community voted to lift a community alcohol ban that was in place since 2009.  

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"Just from talking to people, it was very divided. Some people were for it, some people weren't," recalled Mantla, who helps coordinate social programs with the Tlicho Government.

Behchoko residents voted 346 to 95 in favour of lifting the liquor ban last week. Only 33 per cent of the eligible population voted in the community of about 2,000 people. The 2009 ban will remain in effect for a few months, until legislation is changed.

"I think this is one of the turning points in our communities," Mantla said. "Where [this will] either... go bad, or this will help people." 

A 'culture of drinking'

"There's been a culture of drinking where it was binge drinking, partying," said Mantla.

"And, you know, a lot of that was illicit activities, hiding from police, hiding from other people. That sort of ingrained into the community culture."

Mantla said although he's not a big drinker, he was in favour of lifting the ban. 

"A lot of social problems have risen from the alcohol ban," he said. "Sometimes, [people] find things that could hurt their bodies more than alcohol."

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He said one benefit of lifting the ban is that his community can finally start talking about alcohol in an open environment. "No one is wagging their finger at people saying you shouldn't drink."

He said there's a new generation of youth coming up that don't necessarily have addiction problems yet.

"We can introduce alcohol and normalize it within the community. Make it seem like it's not this big, bad substance… If you take it in moderation you can live a normal, fulfilled life.

"Having this alcohol ban lifted well help lead us there," said Mantla. 

Community 'not ready'

But Mantla said he doesn't think "at this time in moment, the people are ready for this kind of change."

"It's gonna come suddenly," he said.

A drawback of ending the ban is the sudden over-consumption out of impulse, he said. "There might be some impromptu parties going on afterwards."

There might be some impromptu parties...- Mason Mantla

"We just need to start the conversation about what safe alcohol consumption would look like."

Mantla suggested that Behchoko have a public meeting where the chief tells the community exactly how alcohol will be reintroduced and what programs will be available for people.

"We also need to maybe form an advisory committee to steer this change," he said.

"We need input from community members, elders, leaders about what are some positive things from this ban, what are some things we can do together to create a more positive community."

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