The Nome nugget., 1956-09-17
LIQUOR IN THE VILLAGES
Fairbanks News-Miner)

number of Alaska native villages and if no action is taken to check this development it is going to spread all the territory.
 We are referring to liquor establishments which are springng up on the outskirts of villages which have voted NOT to permit liquor stores bars to operate in the region.
 specific example is Fort Yukon, where liquor store is doing business mile from town despite the fact that residents voted in local election not to permit such establishment to operate in the village
 There is nothing illegal about the liquor store Ii is simply circumventing the law and the wishes of the majority of people in Fort Yukon, by selling liquor outside the village, to residents of the village
 Let's look at the situation that has developed there
 The day the liquor store opened IA Fort Yukon lost their construction jobs for drunkenness Most of the men were family wage earners who needed that income.
 It is estimated that at least 50 percent of the residents of the village welfare Needless to say good percentage of this welfare money is being spent liquor instead of on food and clothing for children
 The liquor store there is six-foot by six-foot shack which boasts permanent stock or fixtures The liquor is brought out by in the morning, and returned to town at the end of the business day The owner of the liquor store charges taxi fare to drive residents from the village to the store. The shack is maintained to get around the law, not actual business establishment
 Fort Yukon is not unique The same situation will be found at Gaena, and Panama has been threatened with similar problem.
 Such liquor stores are no doubt profitable but they are sowing great amount of misery and want Tn native villages and unfortunately little children the ones who really suffer In many cases money Is spent for liquor that is needed to maintain a home.
 Frankly, are not 'prudish' about liquor. But selling liquor in native villages where residents are already impoverished isn't exactly healthy practice in our opinion Furthermore in many such stores are being operated in defiance of the will of the majority of the people in the community.
 This situation is spreading, slowly but surely, in Alaska Action must be taken by the legislature to put an end to liquor stores which serving communities which have voted to remain dry
 The legislature should pass law which would prohibit any liquor establishment from serving resi- dents of a village that has voted to keep liquor out The average native village will vote to keep out liquor establishments because majority of the residents fully realize the problems that will arse in the area if such business is opened
 The practice of opening store or bar, just beyond the confines of the town nothing more than loop hole in Alaska law The entire intent of the law IS defeated by this practice. Furthermore, conditions where the law is being circumvented are becoming worse and worse.
 The legislature should take quick action, at its next session to bring end to this lamentable situation
 Meanwhile, while we waiting for the leg1sa- ture to correct this situation feel that 1t would be wise for welfare authorities to check in of these villages and cut off checks if it is evident that certain people are spending this financial assistance for liquor