Park Board to vote on allowing drinking at ten Vancouver parks under pilot program

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You may soon be able to raise a glass in some Vancouver parks — legally.

A report is going before the Park Board on Monday to approve a three-month trial to allow alcohol consumption at some Vancouver parks as early as later this month.

The proposal would see drinking allowed at certain sections of ten parks including Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and New Brighton Park.

“The discussion around allowing alcohol consumption in parks has become more timely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the physical distancing required in response. The pandemic has limited the ability of Vancouverites to socialize with their friends and family, however as restrictions in B.C. ease public health officials advise that socializing outdoors at safe distances reduces risk of virus transmission,” the Park Board report reads.

vancouver park board alcohol consumption

Under the proposal, park users would be able to legally drink between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily, until the end of the trial on Thanksgiving Day weekend in October. Signs would be posted at each site with the list of regulations.

If approved, the provincial government will be roped in to amend the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Act, which currently doesn’t include the park board as an authority to create a by-law for legal liquor consumption.

The Park Board report also anticipates that washrooms would need to be cleaned more often with litter-picking and garbage removal potentially increased. Additional bins would also need to be installed.

The District of North Vancouver and Port Coquitlam have passed similar projects to allow public drinking in the parks in their cities. The City of Vancouver passed a motion last month to direct staff to come up with a report, looking into where drinking could be allowed on city property, such as plazas.