Alberta loosens public liquor consumption rules ahead of May long weekend
CP, The Canadian Press & Alanna Smith
Premier Jason Kenney says he's ending "the war on fun" by loosening liquor laws at provincial parks and festival sites.
Starting this May long weekend, the liquor ban at eight remaining provincial parks will be lifted, Kenney announced Thursday.
The province is also changing regulations to loosen rules for festival organizers hosting events in municipalities and provincial parks.
Later this summer, the new liquor rules will extend to select provincial park day-use area picnic sites.
The province says rules have been changed to allow event organizers the flexibility to serve drinks where they see fit on festival grounds.
Kenney said it's time to give responsible adults more freedom to enjoy themselves.
"Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun," he told reporters.
"In the future, people will be able to grab a beer, walk around a summer festival in this province without fear of being arrested, or ticketed, or fined. If they can do this in pretty much every country of Europe, I think we can treat Albertans as responsible grown-ups as well."
Premier Jason Kenney announced Albertans will be able to consume alcohol in provincial parks starting this May Long Weekend. Beer is pictured on a picnic table in the Gooseberry Campground. Thursday, May 16, 2019. Brendan Miller/Postmedia
The move is being celebrated by some Calgary city councillors.
"For me, it resonated with the kind of city-building I'm interested in doing," said Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra. "It just makes sense that we not live in this puritanical world and, as long as people are being good actors and responsible citizens, it makes sense to me that we would do this."
The City of Calgary sought public input in January on allowing alcohol in parks after receiving a "fairly significant number of comments, unsolicited" from people expressing a desire to drink in public parks. According to city officials, a pilot project would be launched this summer from July to August if the public response is positive.
Carra couldn't offer further details on the pilot project, but said the premier's statement "dovetails perfectly" with work that is already going on.
Similarly, Coun. Ward Sutherland said relaxing rules around consumption are "long overdue" and hopes it means that festivals and public parks will soon be places where people can enjoy an alcoholic beverage openly and responsibly. He said corralling people into designated drinking areas at festivals, away from their friends and family, is an issue that needed to be solved.
"We're so out of date with some of our laws," said Sutherland. "This isn't a (right) to be stupid, and they will be hard on the people that are and I agree with that. Give us the opportunity to be responsible."
This weekend, the liquor ban will be lifted at Aspen Beach, Miquelon Lake, Garner Lake, Dillberry Lake, Pigeon Lake, Whitney Lakes, Jarvis Bay and Wabamun provincial parks.
There is no ban in place at other provincial campgrounds.
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