Local residents have been willing to pay twice as much for alcohol online compared to store prices. (file photo/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Alcohol restrictions

Online bootleggers emerge as alcohol-related RCMP calls rise

Jun 6, 2019 | 12:11 PM

La Ronge RCMP are experiencing an increase in the number of alcohol-related calls for service.

That’s according to data provided from the detachment, which shows there’s been a 15 per cent rise in calls from January 2019 to the end of May 2019 compared to the same period last year. So far in 2019, there have been 1,085 calls received by the RCMP where alcohol has been a factor compared to 948 during the same time in 2018. The most common alcohol-related calls are regarding assaults, breach of peace, liquor act violations, mischief and uttering threats.

“It could be associated to a couple things,” said La Ronge RCMP Staff Sgt. Kyle Watson. “It could be just the time of year. It could be scoring issues, or it could be we’re having a higher number of inebriants who are being arrested or committing offences while inebriated.”

Watson added there could be a perception of the number of alcohol-related calls rising because how files and numbers are “purged” in the system. He does, however, expect the detachment to become busier throughout the summer and it’s hard to estimate if future numbers will level out.

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Tania Colbert, the general manager of the Northland Motor Hotel in La Ronge, believes the increase of calls to police is due to the new La Ronge bylaw restricting hours when alcohol can be served or purchased. Throughout the week, the latest alcohol can legally be sold from a storefront is 11 p.m. (8 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays), but Colbert stated it’s not uncommon to find alcohol for sale on social media after that time.

“I always see postings of people asking for a bootlegger or asking if anyone has a bottle for sale or if anyone knows anyone else with alcohol they are willing to sell,” she said. “A lot of these people who are beer drinkers are buying hard alcohol because that is what they are finding for sale. I think that’s where a lot of the violence is coming in, too.”

A Facebook user uploaded this photo May 29 at 10:55 p.m. seeking buyers. (Facebook)

larongeNOW has documented several instances of tri-community residents looking to purchase or sell alcohol online in recent months. For example, last week a Facebook user was advertising 750 ml bottles of vodka for sale to family and friends on a Wednesday night. Colbert noted people online are willing to pay more than what it costs at her store for the product, adding on paydays residents could pay twice as much.

Watson stated the detachment hasn’t received any complaints about the online alcohol purchases. He noted there are concerns about bootlegging in communities outside of the area and added, if local residents witness such activity, they should call 911. Watson said he was disturbed to learn about such instances occurring.

“This is a significant amount of liquor being traded over social media and we need to curb it and stop it,” he said. “We don’t want to see that. We want to be able to control some of this and do harm prevention. By having the illegal sale of liquor, it’s hurting the people of the community.”

The Community Alcohol Management Plan committee is expected to meet some time Thursday and there could be new data shared from them later this week.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno