The regional district of Metro Vancouver is moving forward with a pilot project that will allow alcohol consumption in several of its parks.
The regional parks are located at Boundary Bay, Campbell Valley, Capilano River, Derby Reach and Iona Beach.
The 2024 pilot program is proposed to run from June 28 to Oct. 14 with alcohol consumption to be permitted at any time during park hours.
Metro Vancouver staff are not tasked with making amendments to existing park bylaws as well as a new liquor bylaw.
“That bylaw work needs to be complete and approved before the pilot can officially start,” a spokesperson said in an email.
Several municipalities in Metro Vancouver have implemented their own initiatives to permit the legal consumption of alcohol in parks and public spaces, including North Vancouver.
Many programs were piloted in 2020 and 2021 as a response to increased usage of public open spaces across the region during the pandemic. Many pilot projects have since been made permanent.
The proposal is not without opposition, as Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health are urging the regional district to not go ahead with the project.
Both health authorities have concerns about health and safety. They said alcohol causes more health harm than any other substance, and is responsible for more hospitalizations and paramedic services than any other substance, costing the province billions of dollars annually.
“In the interest of public health and safety, we strongly caution against the Regional Parks Committee approving a pilot program to permit alcohol consumption in the four regional parks proposed within the Fraser Health area: Boundary Bay, Campbell Valley, Derby Reach, and Brunette Fraser Greenway,” Fraser Health staff said in a release.
“Even moderate amounts of alcohol can have serious health and social consequences including cancers, heart disease, liver disease and violence.”
There are also concerns the project will enable underage drinking.
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