Provincial parks lighten up on booze

As of noon Friday, Albertans are allowed to drink liquor in provincial parks’ picnic sites — but only with food, only before 9 p.m., and only in select sites.

The government announced that, as part of its commitment to relax liquor consumption, 14 of the province’s day-use area picnic sites will permit drinking June 28.

“Another promise made and another promise delivered as our government continues to reduce red tape and end unnecessary prohibition-era liquor constraints,” Premier Jason Kenney said in a news release Friday.

The select sites have about 200 picnic tables among them. All approved day-use area picnic sites will include signage indicating permitted liquor consumption from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“We’ve committed to ending the war on fun in Alberta’s provincial parks … Happy Canada Day and, as always, please enjoy the province’s parks responsibly,” said Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon.

Over the May long weekend, the ban imposed on eight provincial parks was lifted. Kenney has also said he will change provincial liquor laws to ease approvals and support for event organizers hosting festivals in municipalities and provincial parks.

Here’s a list of the select sites where liquor is permitted with food from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.:

South Region

Beauvais Lake Provincial Park

(Beaver Creek day use)

Cypress Hills Provincial Park

(East Elkwater day use)

Dinosaur Provincial Park (main day use)

Kananaskis Country

Little Elbow Provincial Recreation Area (Forget-me-not Pond day use)

Spray Valley Provincial Park (Wedge Pond day use)

Fish Creek Provincial Park (Hulls Wood day use)

Cobble Flats Provincial Recreation Area (Cobble Flats day use)

Central Region

Miquelon Lake Provincial Park (main day use)

Pigeon Lake Provincial Park (main day use)

William A. Switzer Provincial Park (Kelley’s Bathtub day use)

Northeast Region

Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park (day-use C picnic shelter)

Beaver Lake Provincial Recreation Area (day-use picnic shelter)

Whitney Lakes Provincial Park (Ross Lake day-use shelter)

Northwest

Saskatoon Island Provincial Park (main day use)