North Van OKs booze in some parks
City of Vancouver votes against similar motion to allow alcohol consumption in public spaces
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer in city parks in North Vancouver this summer, but not in the city of Vancouver.
The city of North Vancouver passed a motion Tuesday night to allow people to drink alcohol in some public spaces, including parks, as cities look for ways to encourage physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Vancouver City Mayor Linda Buchanan said she is pleased the city passed the bylaw Tuesday night as they need to find new ways for people to connect while distancing.
“This summer I want our parks to feel like an extension of people’s own backyards,” Buchanan said on Twitter, adding that it is a good decision for the many residents who live in multi-family buildings.
The city of Vancouver, however, voted against a similar motion to drink alcohol in designated public spaces in a 5-5 vote split Tuesday night, according to Vancouver city councillor Pete Fry.
The motion was voted against by Councillor Jean Swanson and the city’s four NPA councillors.
Fry, who was one of the councillors to propose the idea, said he was disappointed, especially after learning that North Vancouver City has voted to go ahead with the idea.
“It’s frustrating, especially watching everything that is happening in the United States, because we know when it comes to public drinking and enforcement, it is typically people of colour and Indigenous folks that are targeted for that enforcement,” said Fry.
He added that many Vancouver residents who live in apartments want to get outside and have a drink responsibly while social distancing, and there just isn’t the patio capacity to meet demand.
“It doesn’t create a lot opportunities for Vancouverites and that is unfortunate,” said Fry.
“I’m happy for North Vancouver. I think it is a sound policy. I’m really mostly disappointed for the folks that this is going to negatively impact in Vancouver. It’s not going to stop public drinking but it means some people will be subject to pour outs or untoward interactions with the Vancouver police.”
Fry and fellow Green Councillor Michael Wiebe introduced the motion as way for people living in apartments, or where patio access isn’t an option, to connect over a few drinks with friends.
It urged city hall to establish appropriate locations and hours for consumption of alcohol in specified public places, and considering public safety and access to handwashing facilities and litter receptacles.
Melissa De Genova, one of the Vancouver councillors who voted against the motion, said on Twitter that designating public space for alcohol consumption is not something council can approach with an act-now, ask-questions-later attitude.
She said there is a need to consider public safety, health and budget.
In an email, Swanson said she voted against it because expanding access to booze increases the health harm of alcohol. She added that the city has been advised by a health official from Vancouver Coastal Health that expanding access to booze is a bad idea, especially during a pandemic.
“I’m not saying it’s bad to drink or that drinking should be prohibited,” said Swanson. “Just that we need to be mindful of this health research just like we are about health research on cigarettes.
“We don’t ban cigarettes, but we try to limit accessibility to them and that has been working and tobacco-related deaths have been going down.”
Coun. Christine Boyle introduced a separate motion last week to urge the park board to allow alcohol consumption in designated parks and on beaches. That motion passed on Tuesday night.
The motion from city council will be part of the park board’s agenda on Monday.