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 spirits a person can buy at the B.C. Liquor store in Tofino, a move that leaders of the Ahousaht First Nation were pushing for. 

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

Ahousaht Elected Chief Councillor Naasathluk (John Rampanen) said the First Nation had been advocating for a limit on alcohol sales per person. Naasathluk said Ahousaht has been considered a "dry reserve" for a number of years but bootlegging continues to flourish.

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

Naasathluk said the change was a 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 20 kilometres from Tofino, the closest municipality. 

Naasathluk said alcohol has been a 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 is under a state of emergency put in place in September 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 are improving with increased medical and mental health support from the province, and the changes to the liquor sales are part of that. 

More services needed 

Naasathluk said the community needs more services 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 was recently built, which Naasathluk said will open soon. 

Hereditary Chief of the Ahousaht First Nation Hasheukumiss (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 been a 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 has on 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 Mayor Dan Law said in a statement to CBC News that the municipality is in support of the liquor purchase limits.