Responsible Alcohol Consumption in Public Spaces
After a successful pilot of Responsible Alcohol Use in Public Spaces program last summer, the City has expanded the program to begin earlier in the season and include more parks.
From May 15 until September 15 between noon and 9pm, the program has expanded to the following parks: Waterfront (including Tugboat Bay), Boyce-Gyro, Kinsmen Beach, Cedar Creek, Rotary Beach, Sarsons Beach, Strathcona Beach and Sutherland Bay.
These parks are conveniently located near mid- and high-density neighborhoods, where residents are less likely to have access to private outdoor spaces and have amenities like washrooms, trash cans, and picnic areas that are easily accessible by public transit and active transportation routes. For the safety of park users and their pets, glass alcoholic beverage containers are prohibited.
Kelowna RCMP members will continue to patrol public spaces in the city and will issue tickets for public intoxication, and alcohol consumption in areas and at times not permitted under the new bylaw. Signage will be posted at each park where responsible alcohol is permitted and the City of Kelowna’s chatbot will also highlight the parks.
Alcohol consumption will be permitted in specified areas of these parks, as outlined in yellow.
The Responsible Alcohol Consumption in Public Spaces program will run daily noon to 9 p.m. from May 15 to September 15, 2024.
These are some of the rules that people participating in the program should remember:
- The program is limited to designated areas of Waterfront (including Tugboat Bay), Boyce-Gyro, Kinsmen Beach, Cedar Creek, Rotary Beach, Sarsons Beach, Strathcona Beach and Sutherland Bay. Areas where alcohol consumption is permitted will be identified with signs.
- Alcohol consumption is only permitted from noon until 9 p.m. daily.
- Alcohol consumption is not permitted near playgrounds and other areas with high concentrations of children, within 15 metres of a private residence or near skateparks and other structures that could lead to injury.
- For the safety of park users and their pets, glass alcoholic beverage containers are not allowed.
- The program focuses on responsible alcohol consumption. Public intoxication remains illegal.
These parks have been included in the pilot because:
- They are close to mid- and high-density neighbourhoods where residents are less likely to have private outdoor spaces.
- They have amenities like washrooms, trash cans and picnic areas that are necessary to support the program.
- They are easily accessed by public transit and active transportation routes.
Many Kelowna residents and visitors don’t have access to private outdoor spaces where they can safely and legally enjoy an alcoholic beverage. The program promotes responsible behaviour by designating areas where they can.
Kelowna residents and visitors should be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in one of our parks if they choose to, and we trust they can do so responsibly. Parks serve as community gathering places and allowing responsible alcohol consumption allows people to come together and interact in a safe and enjoyable environment.
After a comprehensive review of the success of the 2023 pilot, parks chosen as part of the expansion were based on rigorous monitoring and evaluation, as well as discussions with many partners around the city.
Penticton, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam have introduced similar programs in recent years. They have cited few serious impacts due to the pilots and have gone on to allow alcohol consumption in some locations permanently.
The greatest impact other municipalities identified out of their initiatives is a greater need for garbage collection. Parks have been selected that can accommodate that increased demand and City employees will regularly inspect and maintain those areas to ensure they are in good condition.
Alcohol consumption is only allowed in Waterfront, Boyce-Gyro and Kinsmen Beach parks from noon to 9 p.m.
Glass beverage containers are not allowed as part of the pilot to prevent the risk of injury to people and their pets.
The parks that are included in the program have containers to accommodate a larger amount of garbage, and City employees will regularly inspect and maintain those areas to ensure they are in good condition.
Boyce-Gyro features high-capacity waste containers and smart sensors have been installed in waste bins in all pilot spaces to alert City staff when they’ve reached capacity. Frequent mechanical beach cleaning ensures that beach areas are kept clear of debris and safe for all users and their pets.
Kelowna RCMP can issue tickets for public intoxication, and alcohol consumption in areas and at times not permitted under the pilot initiative.
Bylaw Officers can issue bylaw offence notices to individuals who consume alcohol in public outside of the areas and times designated in the pilot.
The Responsible Alcohol Consumption in Public Spaces pilot was monitored closely throughout the three months it was active and was assessed after its completion.
We are continuing to work closely with the RCMP, the Downtown Kelowna Association, Tourism Kelowna and affected neighbourhood associations to address any issues or concerns that may arise during the program and consulted these partners following the pilot and received support for an expansion.
