The amount of alcohol seized by the Nunavik Police Service (NPS) is up in 2026 compared to last year. Alcohol in circulation—whether legal or not—is causing serious problems in communities, including knife attacks, traffic accidents, and domestic violence.
From January through October 2026, nearly 1,150 litres of alcohol (mostly hard liquor) were seized by police, representing an estimated resale value of over $360,000 on the Nunavik black market. That is 400 litres more than for all of 2025.
In this remote region of Quebec, which is accessible only by plane, alcohol sales are permitted only in certain villages, but the quantities per day and per person are rationed. For example, in Puvirnituq, a person can purchase a maximum of 12 beers or 1 litre of wine per day.
Most of Nunavik’s 14 villages have no retail outlets. However, residents are allowed to order alcohol from authorized suppliers. Shipments arrive by plane or boat, which means a large quantity of alcohol arrives in the community all at once. The consequences can be serious.
“I can’t comment on the official statistics. I can only report what I hear and what I see. I am indeed seeing many more cases of alcohol poisoning. The consequences of potential cases of domestic violence, accidents related to impaired driving, and children placed in foster care by social services—all of this stems from alcohol consumption,” said Bobby Epoo, mayor of Inukjuak, in an interview.
A major public safety issue, say police
Nunavik police are stepping up efforts to minimize the consequences of alcohol. “It is not uncommon for officers to escort intoxicated individuals home to prevent any risk to their safety and that of the public,” the Nunavik Police Service (NPS) wrote in an email to La Presse Canadienne.
Officers will sometimes detain an arrested individual where “violence and/or intoxication are significant factors” until the person returns to a normal state, with the aim of protecting those involved. “Despite these efforts, alcohol remains a factor in the vast majority of police interventions related to violent situations,” states the NPS.
He also notes a significant increase in the use of crack and other hard drugs, particularly crystal meth. “This reality, combined with the problems already associated with alcohol, poses a public safety issue of particular concern to Nunavik communities,” the police said.
Epoo points to another issue caused by alcohol, though one that more directly affects the smooth functioning of the village. This summer, Inukjuak faced a shortage of drinking water, partly because the workers who deliver water to homes failed to show up for work due to alcohol use. Epoo clarifies, however, that some absences are due to traditional activities, such as hunting and fishing. Nevertheless, he states unequivocally that “almost the entire summer was marked by a staff shortage due to alcohol consumption.”
“We go through this every summer,” he laments. “Everyone wants to go out, and everyone wants to drink. No one wants to work. So there are no more teachers at the daycare, no more cashiers at the store, no more truck drivers for the water, and no more receptionists.”
Alcohol is not part of Inuit culture, Epoo emphasizes. “It should never have been introduced to the Inuit. Some Inuit manage their alcohol consumption well, but others do not. In the near future, I don’t see Inukjuak being ready for the sale of alcohol in stores. It will take another 100 or 150 years,” he says.
According to Dr. Geneviève Auclair, who has been practicing in Nunavik for 19 years, there may be more patient visits at health centers when a shipment of alcohol arrives in the territory, but staff do not know exactly when these deliveries will take place. “We notice it once we start seeing more patients brought in—either due to more disorganized behavior, accidents [involving ATVs or snowmobiles], or violence […] directed at oneself or others,” she says.
Auclair points out that, conversely, communities that temporarily ban alcohol shipments fare better during these periods. There are often fewer visits for medical emergencies.
There are some excellent initiatives in Nunavik to help people struggling with addiction. Auclair cites Saqijuq as an example, which offers a program where people go on outings for traditional activities. “And we know that this has a protective effect in reducing consumption,” she emphasizes.
There is also the Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigiittut Inuit Association (NIIA), which focuses more on prevention, as well as the Isuarsivik addiction rehabilitation centre. “Of course, initiatives by the community, for the community, are always more effective, but these organizations are often overwhelmed and unable to keep up with demand. And they aren’t necessarily accessible in every community,” Auclair notes with regret.
“As healthcare professionals, we often feel helpless, and we’d like to see more psychosocial support and mental health support, because sometimes these issues go hand in hand,” she adds.
In September, on the sidelines of the “A New Vision for Health” summit, Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, Quebec’s director of public health, spoke about her recent trip to Nunavik, where she met “inspiring women in leadership roles who are doing their best to restore health within their communities.”
Alcohol and tobacco are consumed at higher rates in the Far North than in the rest of the province, Quach-Thanh noted. But implementing solutions is no easy task.
“A community nurse is really torn between trying to address emergencies and engaging in health promotion and prevention. To be able to overcome these challenges, it takes education, awareness-raising, and promotion,” Quach-Thanh told La Presse Canadienne.
In her view, we need to address several determinants of health, starting with the shortage of housing. For example, if we want to increase the number of healthcare workers, we need more housing. This is also a problem for families living in overcrowded conditions, which contributes to the spread of disease.
—
The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
