More places in Kelowna to allow booze on the beach

It appears the community and visitors have passed a test for responsible drinking of alcohol in public spaces.

As a result, the city is adding more parks to a list allowing the consumption of booze around Kelowna’s waterfront in the coming months.

It follows a pilot project from last year that resulted in very few, if any, complaints about drinking at Waterfront Park, Kinsmen Park and Boyce-Gyro Beach Park.

Five other parks have been added: Cedar Creek, Rotary Beach, Sarsons Beach, Strathcona, and Sutherland Bay.

Drinking will be allowed noon to 9 p.m. from May 15 to September 15.

It does seem the residents and tourists of Kelowna have answered the big question Ara from Beach Radio posed when lawmakers first pondered whether to allow booze on our beaches.

Check out the video.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, city council does reserve the right to bring the matter back for discussion at any time in future.

Original story

Do you think it is time Kelowna allows people to openly drink on the beach?

It appears Kelowna is set to follow in Penticton’s footsteps and allow the public to bring their favourite boozy bevy to the beach.

Ara, from 103.1 Beach Radio, savoured what such a picture might look like come summer.

Mayor Tom Dyas has asked city staff to prepare a report for council, which would outline how a pilot project would work this summer.

Certain beaches would be part of the plan and there would likely be restricted hours during which you can sip your margarita, G&T, beer or vino.

In a recent 103.1 Beach Radio poll, 70 per cent of respondents said they figured it was time to allow booze on the beach, although of course, some were concerned about how things would be monitored.

Others noted people have been sneaking booze onto the beach anyway and perhaps bylaw and the police should be focusing their attention elsewhere.

Last month, Penticton made permanent a temporary bylaw allowing public consumption of alcohol at certain parks and beaches after officials there found the practice did not cause any major issues.