Imperial Beach recently changed their city code to almost close a loophole that allowed alcohol to be openly consumed at the end of the Imperial Beach pier.
The Union-Tribune's June 24 article on the change provides a good summary of the recent changes in local law to ban the consumption of alcohol on local beaches. The issue has been particularly contentious in Pacific Beach. Web sites for and against San Diego's ban on beach alcohol have hotly debated the issue.
Personally, I'm for personal responsibility. I don't like governments or anyone else telling me what to do when I'm not hurting anyone else.
LAL from San Diego
June 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM
I agree with you on the personal responsibility myself. I like to think we still consider Civil Rights an issue in society today but I am having a hard time with the trial alcohol ban on our beaches, bays and parks. The taxpaying citizens of San Diego should have the opportunity to Vote on an alcohol ban. The City Council, 8 people, should not have the right/control to take away the personal free of law abiding citizens who wish to enjoy a beverage with alcohol on the beach at sunset. Perhaps you may want to look into and comment more on the trial alcohol ban and see what your readers are thinking.
Alma Sove from San Diego
June 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM
It's good to hear the Independent voter speak his mind about why he chooses to vote for one party or the other. These are hard issues to get at in the dominant two-party system, and can be difficult for many Independents to articulate when most people are accustomed to sticking by one party's platform. Thanks.
About the alcohol ban, unlike the previous comment, I don't think the City Council decided to ban alcohol on a trial basis of their own volition. It, like many other of these local ordinances, resulted from years of complaints made by both local cops and local residents.
What concerns me more than the ban itself (which I wouldn't support on a ballot) is that those people engaging in rowdy, aggressive, mean, and even violent behavior on SD's beaches literally didn't know "when to say when" either to their alcohol or to their poor behavior in public before this ban.
What concerns me is that many people, unlike you Chuck, eschew personal responsibility for the police state that forces them to stop. How many of these intoxicated beachgoers were asked by non-cops to keep it down, or take it easy, or slow down on the residential areas? It's not until someone "makes them" like Mommy or Daddy used to do that some people finally get it through their pickled skulls to knock it off. This law is substituting for what the cops were unable to do: control large crowds at the beach.
Nothing drives me to cheer on a paternalistic ordinance like the beach booze ban more than the thought that maybe some people will chill out in public instead of having the attitude that they are adults and should be able to do whatever they feel like doing at anytime. I predict this ban won't last more than a year or two as it will drive down tourism from AZ, just for starters. After all, the City of San Diego can't say no to tourism anymore than the rowdy drunks at PB or Mission on any previous holiday, weekend, or any time after noon could say no to acting like they just got let out of jail.
Chuck
from Escondido, CA
June 26, 2008 at 12:40 AM
LAL - while I agree with you on the trial alcohol ban, I think the last week around here has more than proven the readers are capable of commenting for themselves. That said, while I want to see the trial ban ended, and would vote that way if it were on a ballot I could vote on (I live in Escondido now), I think initiatives are overused and not appropriate for this type of issue. The eight people you refer to were hired by the people of the City of San Diego to make exactly this kind of decision, and if the people of San Diego disapprove of their job performance they should replace them, not waste time and money constantly fixing the damage they cause.
Alma - You may be right that the ban is the easier solution for controlling the large crowds, especially in a society where people want bright lines instead of discretion. It'll be interesting to see what the tourism impact is, especially if they try and make the ban permanent.
LAL from San Diego
June 30, 2008 at 09:37 PM
This is a BIG WEEKEND 4th of July! Yea, we are going to see a lot of people who are going to realize for the first time the implications of this trial alcohol ban. It will be interesting to see the tax revenue numbers from 2007 and this year. I can tell you right now they will be lots lower. Put people who support the ban will say it is because of gas prices or maybe the weather. Crime stats will go down too. Less people per square foot on the beaches and bays equal less citations. The interesting stats will be the citations in the neighborhoods of OB, PB and MB. The alcohol ban has driven people to have house parties and it will be much more difficult for SDPD to control 250 parties of 50-300 people. Oh well, this year you can find me and my friends floating on inter-tubes on Mission Bay with a cold beer in hand.
Alma
from Sunny San Diego
June 30, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Just make sure not to call your pals via cell phone on the way down to the beach, LAL! You're sure to get cited on the 4th for either using a hand-held cell in your car, or for the cold beer in hand once on the beach. Ah, yes. Speaks volumes about the value of Personal Responsibility doesn't it?
Tamagotchi Town
December 28, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Great info, thanks
