Consuming alcohol in an ice hut is illegal under the Liquor Licence Act, said the Ontario Provincial Police.

The only exemption is if the ice hut contains legitimate sleeping and cooking facilities (such as ice bungalows) per the definition of “Public Place” in the LLA.

Members of the Sudbury and Espanola detachments will be out on area lakes conducting snowmobile patrols. Those found consuming alcohol on the ice or in their ice-fishing shacks may be charged under Liquor Licence Act.

It is important to note that 30 per cent of fatal snowmobile collisions involved the consumption of alcohol. Operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol could result in impaired driving charges.