How other cities have tackled public tipple
I have no issue with anybody responsibly having a beer or a glass of wine in a park.
JOHN TORY TORONTO MAYOR
■ Montreal: Legally, consuming alcoholic beverages in public spaces is “strictly prohibited.” However, there’s a caveat: if you’re in a picnic area and consuming a meal, drinking is permitted. But what constitutes a meal? Is a baguette with some paté sufficient? Or something more like a hearty steak frites? The law does not say.
■ Edmonton: This year, city councillors approved the second year of a pilot project that would permit alcohol consumption at 124 picnic sites across 18 parks in the city. Like Toronto’s proposed program, alcohol may only be consumed between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Designated drinking sites are bookable online and also available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Like Matlow, Edmonton city councillor Anne Stevenson said she supported the pilot because she was worried about inequitable enforcement under the previous bylaw. She says the pilot program has not led to a noticeable increase in alcohol-related complaints.
■ Vancouver: In February, B.C.’s largest city also approved a proposal to extend, for a second year, its pilot program that permits drinking alcohol in public parks. The policy has been in the works since 2018. In 2021, the first year of the trial, residents were allowed to consume alcohol at designated drinking sites within 22 parks. A report on the first year of the pilot found that though park users did not generally abide by designated drinking areas when drinking alcohol, the Vancouver Police Department found no increase in the number of alcohol-related calls.
■ London, England: It’s basically “anything goes” with regards to alcohol in London’s royal parks and gardens. “We have no objection to alcoholic drinks,” reads the website for the Royal Parks, which manages spaces such as Greenwich Park, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, sanctuaries originally reserved for the Royal Family for hunting. Picnics are encouraged and some parks can host gatherings of up to 40 guests. But be warned: a royal park picnic may not be so royal after all. Glassware is highly discouraged by park officials due to the hazard of broken glass.