New regs propose scrapping NWT’s liquor board among other changes

New regs propose scrapping NWT’s liquor board among other changes Alice Twa Monday September 21, 2026 at 5:50am MT Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio Share After significantly updating territorial liquor laws three years ago, the NWT government is seeking the public’s opinion on regulations to implement the changes. In 2023, the GNWT passed amendments to the Liquor Act, the most notable update to the legislation since it came into force in 2008. Many of the changes were informed by recommendations from a 2022 report. Now, the GNWT has set an October 16 deadline for feedback on proposed regulations that would bring the 2023 Liquor Act into force. There’s information about the proposal on the GNWT’s website. Below is a look at what’s changed. Licensing board would be scrapped Up till now, a liquor licensing board has issued, enforced and heard appeals about liquor licences in the NWT. Under the new act and regulations, a registrar would take over licensing duties. A chief inspector would be created to manage inspectors and recommend whether a licensed premise or event should have their licence cancelled or suspended. Advertisement. Advertisement. The licensing board would be replaced with an appeals board dedicated to appeals of decisions made by the registrar and inspectors. The chief inspector would also be responsible for promoting education and awareness about the Liquor Act and regulations, and creating a SafeEvent certification program that would be required when applying for a special occasion permit. The GNWT currently offers SafeServe training, which the regulations would now require for anyone selling or serving alcohol and any security staff on site. Drink limits Instead of a two drink per customer limit, the regulations propose the following minimum and maximum serving quantities of alcohol for beer, wine, coolers and spirits: Advertisement. Advertisement. 1 fl oz to 3 fl oz for a drink made with spirits; under 60 fl oz for a pitcher of beer, wine or cider; under 26.4 fl oz for a decanter of wine; for tasting flights, 9.5 fl oz for wine, 21.1 fl oz for beer, 6.3 fl oz for cocktails, or 3.2 fl oz for spirits; and for samples, 2.1 fl oz for wine, coolers, cider or beer, or 0.53 fl oz for spirits. Licensing changes The available liquor licence options get a redesign under the new legislation. New licence classes would be: liquor primary, food primary, liquor incidental, tourism, service club, ferment on premise, and manufacturing. The…