Beach Booze Ban Should Be Consistent

When the San Diego City Council this week considers a ban on alcohol at many city beaches and parks, it will be faced with an age-old argument: Should the privileges of the many be curtailed because of abuse by a few?

The answer depends on the importance of the right being restricted.

And the “right” to drink alcohol, hardly ranks with due process or freedom of expression.

Sure, we too mourn the passing of another symbol of San Diego’s easy beach lifestyle. A glass of wine while watching a sunset, or a beer with a picnic lunch can be delightful.

But less controlled drinking by a small minority--a Times poll found that only 12% of San Diegans often drink at the beach--is spoiling the enjoyment of the majority.

The council was wise last January--not to mention politic given the outcry--to try an experiment at one beach and two parks instead of imposing a citywide ban. Scalpels usually work better than axes.

But the six-month experiment has been a success. The city manager reports a dramatic reduction in noise, vandalism and litter at La Jolla Shores, Kellogg Park and North Park Community Park. Residents of nearby communities are pleased, and other communities have asked for similar bans.

So the question now is, should the council continue with the scalpel or should the experiment be considered sufficient proof for a broader ban?

The city manager argues, correctly, that alcohol should be prohibited at all city beaches, except by groups that obtain permits for company picnics and the like.

A consistent rule would discourage drinkers from changing beaches--especially important at Mission Bay Park, which has both oceanfront and bay beaches. The other principal reason is that consistent regulations will be easier to enforce. Having some beaches or parts of beaches off limits and others allowing drinking would be confusing.

The consistency argument slips when it comes to parks. The city manager proposes a ban on drinking at all regional parks, except Balboa Park, and at a few smaller parks where it has been a problem.

The argument is that Balboa Park is different from the other, primarily nature-preserve regional parks, and that drinking has not been a major problem there.

Why not try a one-year experimental ban at all of the regional parks--including Balboa Park? Then a more informed decision could be made about the city’s most heavily used park.

As many communities have found, curtailed drinking at beaches and parks may be one of the small prices we pay for living in a major city.