Permanent Beach Alcohol Ban To Be Decided In November

SAN DIEGO -- Voters should be asked in November whether to make the one-year trial ban on alcohol at San Diego's beaches permanent, two City Council members said Tuesday.

At a news conference in Pacific Beach, Council President Scott Peters and Councilman Kevin Faulconer said the beach booze ban that went into effect in January has had a positive effect.

"The alcohol-free beaches have been a success this year, even during the busiest times of the year," Faulconer said. "During spring break, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July the beaches have been a safe and fun way to celebrate with family and friends."

Peters said he supports keeping the beaches alcohol-free permanently.

"The communities in my district have seen how well the alcohol-free beaches ordinance worked," he said.

They now intend to ask the full council to put the proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In November, the council approved a one-year booze ban at all of San Diego's beaches and coastal parks.

Calls for more stringent regulations on drinking at city beaches followed a Labor Day melee in Pacific Beach, where police in riot gear were pelted with beer cans and more than a dozen people were arrested.

Before the melee, attempts to prohibit drinking at city beaches had failed twice. There was a thwarted attempt to ban booze at the beach in 1991. In 2002, voters narrowly rejected a proposition to disallow alcohol at the beach.

City Attorney Michael Aguirre said he supports a November ballot measure on the beach alcohol ban.

In a statement, Aguirre said during the most recent two summer holidays public safety officials have reported fewer alcohol-related incidents of public urination, drunkenness and assaults.

"Now, it's time for the voters to decide on whether or not they want the city's one-year trial alcohol-free beach ordinance to become permanent," he said.