July
2008 | by Jon
Edelbrock
In
May, the
City Council unanimously
voted to ban
alcohol consumption
on the beach
and in our two
popular beach-side
parks, Seagrove
and Powerhouse,
through Labor
Day weekend.
Preceding the
Council's decision,
tension stemming
from large crowds
on the beaches
and streets
had been increasing
significantly.
Questions regarding
the roots of
the increase
in incidents
requiring enforcement
seemed to point
to most issues
being alcohol-related. From
a qualitative
perspective,
the initial
result of the
ban seems to
be very positive.
Much like the
City of San
Diego and their
beaches, the
outcome has
been a more
peaceful crowd
- on both beach
and streets.
When describing
the difference
between Labor
Day weekend
crowds and those
on the first
day of school
in the fall,
I tell people
it's like the
lights have
been turned
off. I believe
we can all agree
the change has
not been significant
to that degree;
however, the
appearance of
a more family-friendly
beach community
is readily apparent
from my perch.
Enforcement
on the streets
as well as the
beach has become
much more benign.
The resident
reviews, as
well as those
from our employees,
have been extremely
positive with
most lauding
the council's
decision. Initially,
I had questions
about the enforcement
of the ban -
especially given
the unfriendly
nature of alcohol-related
contacts in
general. Will
there be stepped-up
enforcement
and, if so,
by whom? Will
large parties
move to the
homes and streets
requiring more
enforcement?
To all my doubts
and concerns,
I've been greeted
with manageable
results allowing
myself and our
Lifeguard staff
to focus less
on law enforcement
issues and more
on beach safety
and community
service.
As
mentioned, the
City of San
Diego and most
other neighboring
beach communities
have also instituted
a beach alcohol
ban and have
seen remarkable
differences
on their beaches.
Most notable
is the volume
of trash and
previously unmanageable
number of crowds
in the Mission
and Pacific
Beach areas.
Multiple lifeguards
on those beaches
have ecstatically
expressed their
kudos for the
ban and noted
a significant
decrease in
incidents, just
as we've seen
to date.
Agree
with the
ban or not,
from a recreation
management
standpoint,
the immediate
results of
the alcohol
ban have yielded
precisely
what the city
anticipated – public
space that
is both safe
and enjoyable
for the entire
community.
Jon
Edelbrock is
Community Services
and Lifeguard
Sergeant with
City of Del
Mar's Community
Services.
© 2007-08
Del Mar
Community
Alliance,
Inc. All
rights reserved. |
