Categories: Lifestyle

You can legally drink alcohol at these Vancouver beaches starting this week

Photo via Shutterstock

Great news, Vancouver! The sun is shining and picnic season is well underway, and with that may come the desire to sip on a couple of adult-friendly beverages here and there. Fortunately, there are already designated public plazas open year-round that offer spots to unwind with a brew. And starting this week, the option will finally be extended to beachgoers as well!

On Monday, April 24th, the Vancouver Park Board voted in favour of expanding the ‘Alcohol in Parks Pilot’ program, which made it legal to consume alcohol in over 20 designated parks and beaches in Vancouver last summer.

Starting Thursday, June 1st, Vancouverites will be able to drink legally at seven beaches all summer long, in addition to 31 parks year-round, and 16 between July 1st and August 31st.

“After two successful years, we’re delighted to bring back responsible alcohol consumption to many of Vancouver’s most popular public spaces,” says Park Board Chair Scott Jensen. “Our previous pilot programs demonstrated the importance of creating shared spaces for socializing and we saw how effectively Vancouver’s parks and beaches can accommodate safe drinking.”

At Monday’s meeting, the Park Board approved the addition of the following beach pilot sites (open from June 1st to September 4th):

Jericho Beach
Spanish Banks
Locarno Beach
Second Beach (Stanley Park)
Kitsilano Beach
John Hendry / Trout Lake Beach
New Brighton Beach

As well, the Park Board voted to prohibit glass beverage bottles and containers at all parks and beaches, to prevent potential broken glass and injury.

Starting June 1st, you can legally consume alcohol at the following parks year-round:

Adanac Park
Balaclava Park
Burrard View Park
Elm Park
Fraser River Park
Garden Park
Granville Park
Harbour Green Park
Jericho Beach Park
John Hendry/Trout Lake Park
Jonathan Rogers Park
Jones Park
Kitsilano Beach Park
Langara Park
Locarno Beach Park
Maple Grove Park
McBride Park
Memorial West Park
New Brighton Park
Pandora Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
Riverfront Park
Spanish Banks Beach Park
Stanley Park (Lumberman’s Arch)
Stanley Park (Southwest and Second Beach)
Sunrise Park
Tatlow Park
Vanier Park
Victoria Park
Volunteer Park
Woodland Park

During July and August of each year, consuming alcohol will be legal at the following parks:

Beaconsfield Park
Braemer Park
Brewers Park
Clinton Park
Collingwood Park
Columbia Park
Falaise Park
Memorial South Park
Norquay Park
Oak Park
Quilchena Park
Robson Park
Ross Park
Rupert Park
Slocan Park
Winona Park

Finally, note the following areas that are NOT alcohol-friendly:

Within 20 metres of a playground, school, or natural area
Within 5 metres of a pool or water park
In, on, or within a:
- beach, pond, lake, or dock
- seawall, roadway, parking lot, or building entrance
- garden or horticultural display
- sports field, court, skate park, fitness amenity, or pitch & putt
- community centre, fieldhouse, or washroom
- designated off-leash dog area

If you’re keen on reading the fine print or want to see how data collected from park staff, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the VPD all factored into this year’s program, you can read up on the approved by-law.

When searching for the perfect place for a boozy picnic this summer, remember there are an additional 25 parks on the North Shore to consider.

Drink responsibly, Vancouver! We’ll catch you at the beach!