Charities, non-profits should focus fundraising away from alcohol sales
With La Ronge Council and others looking to reduce liquor consumption in the tri-communities, Dr. Peter Butt believes local organizations need to find other ways to raise funds without selling liquor.
“In regards to events that are trying to raise money for the community, it’s counter-productive if it decreases the health and well-being of people in the community,” he said. “This is where one has to think about other ways of raising money outside of selling liquor. This is part of the cultural shift that occurs when communities start looking at alcohol consumption, and the patterns and harms in their community.”
According to a survey undertaken by the Community Alcohol Management Plan committee, 61 per cent of respondents wanted to see the sale of alcohol prohibited at sporting events. At events where children are present, 72 per cent wanted to see it banned. When it comes to La Ronge Ice Wolves games, Butt said children seeing adults drinking at such places normalizes the consumption of alcohol.
Some organizations in La Ronge have already started the process of preventing normalization such as the Northlands College board of directors, who passed a motion in June to support students by encouraging a safe space for those who struggle with alcohol and discouraging alcohol at events. Throughout the tri-communities, there were also a number of dry events such as dances and programming by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the drive-in theatre fundraiser by the Elks Club.