SOLANA BEACH — With no opposition at the May 27 meeting, City Council permanently banned alcohol on all city beaches and adjoining park and bluff areas.
Last year, in response to violence and other problems related to alcohol consumption, the city of San Diego made it illegal to drink on its beaches. As parties moved to areas where potent potables were permitted, cities along the coast all began adopting similar bans.
Solana Beach soon became one of the last places without a prohibition. Up until that time, the city had never had a problem, according to City Manager David Ott. “We had a very responsible public,” he said.
“All of a sudden (we started) getting a little more activity at our park right there at Fletcher Cove and at our beach that we had not experienced before,” Ott said. “It caused problems for our community.”
That prompted City Council to adopt a one-year trial ban that was set to expire this July 24.
Mayor Mike Nichols asked how the city would deal with creative drinkers who try to skirt the law by consuming alcohol on a raft in the water because technically it is not “the beach.” Ott said any area within the surf line falls under the jurisdiction of lifeguards and the Sheriff’s Department and is subject to the ban.
Anything tied together and used outside the surf line would be considered a craft and the owners would be subject to Coast Guard regulations and possible arrest for boating under the influence.
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