City council set to decide on whether to allow booze in city parks this summer
Calgarians could soon legally sip a glass of wine or a bottle of beer in city parks if enough members of council toast the idea Monday.
A motion to test the concept at select green spaces goes before city lawmakers less than two weeks after their Edmonton counterparts approved piloting booze at 47 picnic sites in seven parks in that city.
The Calgary version would follow a similar path, with alcohol consumption arranged by booking a specific table and would be a way to encourage outdoor activity amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, said Coun. Gian-carlo Carra, who's co-sponsoring the motion with Coun. Evan Woolley.
“We have to take care of our citizens . . . it's more important than ever to enjoy being outside,” said Carra.
The pilot should be geographically spread throughout the city in designated parks, he said, but avoid “creating dark nooks and crannies where bad things can happen.”
The trial would run from June 1 to Sept. 7 and, if adopted and successful, could lead to a loosening of rules surrounding the activity while adding designated spaces, said Carra.
He noted surveys conducted in the past two years found public approval for allowing alcohol consumption in parks ran from 56 to 79 per cent.
“I suspect there'd be a tonne of people booking picnic tables,” said Carra, adding he's received numerous requests from businesses and individuals that alcohol consumption be allowed in parks.
Other city councillors were in favour of at least sampling the notion of tipping a few in public spaces.
Coun. Sean Chu said his prior experience as a city police officer proved to him many Calgarians were already ignoring the current prohibition.
“I'd let it go a lot of the time and just tell them, `don't be so obvious about it,'” he said.
“People are going to do it anyway.”
But it's also important penalties for abusing the privilege through rowdy and reckless behaviour should be stiff and that it not be allowed within sight of children's playgrounds, said Chu.
He said ending the ban could also supply an economic tonic for liquor retailers and other businesses.
“I think there's more pros to it than cons,” said Chu.
Coun. Shane Keating agreed current restrictions on the activity are widely flouted and that in a vast majority of cases, Calgarians can be trusted to handle drinking in parks.
“Is it going to lead to more difficulties? I have a hard time believing that today,” he said.
“It's just a matter of what regulations you put around it for those who will abuse it.”
Carra and Woolley noted alcohol consumption is now allowed at two sites in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Soon after the recreational use of cannabis was legalized, efforts were made to allow its consumption at designated spots in public parks.
But that idea died after only Carra showed support for it among city council, and public use of otherwise legal cannabis remains confined to private spaces.
He and Keating said ending the ban on alcohol in parks is more palatable than doing the same with pot.
“You can't get second-hand drunk but you can get second-hand smoke,” said Carra.
Cannabis users can consume edibles without affecting those around them, said Keating. “But if you're smoking, there could be asthma issues, kids, smells.”
Carra and Woolley's motion asks administration to report back to council with results of the pilot no later than November.