San Diego

A partial ban on alcoholic beverages at San Diego beach areas is improving safety, according to a report delivered Wednesday to a City Council committee.

The council earlier this year enacted an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. ban on drinking at beaches and total alcohol ban on boardwalks after a series of heated hearings.

The prohibition, which went into effect June 11, was designed to deter reported rowdy behavior that had, at times, frightened beach-area residents and was reportedly keeping families away from the shore.

According to the report prepared by Deputy City Manager Coleman Conrad, both violent and property crimes at most beach areas have decreased since the ban was put into effect.

The most dramatic decrease in crime was seen at La Jolla Shores, which is under a 24-hour alcohol ban. Police statistics show that crimes against people decreased 80%.

Other figures indicate that crimes against people went down 44% at South Mission Beach and 36% at Mission Beach.

Police also reported that arrests were down during the first five months of the alcohol ban. Statistics show that arrests were down 71% at Pacific Beach, 43% at La Jolla Shores and more than 20% at both Ocean Beach and South Mission Beach.

Although officials report success with the emergency alcohol ban, they also note that poor weather this summer that kept beach-goers away may have skewed the figures. Furthermore, some people may have the mistaken impression that drinking on the sand is banned during daylight, officials said.