Beach Brawl Leads to Ban on Alcohol : Safety: State will finally prohibit consumption at Huntington, Bolsa Chica and Crystal Cove parks.

State officials have decided to ban alcohol at Huntington, Bolsa Chica and Crystal Cove state beaches in the wake of a weekend brawl that sent two Huntington Beach lifeguards to the hospital, a supervisor said Tuesday.

Also, those beaches will be closed at 10 p.m. instead of midnight, said David Pryor, a lifeguard supervisor for the state Parks and Recreation Department. He said no date has been set for implementation of the new rules.

Officials have been considering a ban on alcohol at the three beaches for a few years, and Saturday’s brawl finally forced a decision, Pryor said. “Now’s the time to join in with our city and county brethren and make a complete ban” on alcohol, he said.

Alcohol has long been banned at city and county-run beaches, while guidelines have varied at the state parks, authorities said.

After the new rules are implemented at Huntington, Bolsa Chica and Crystal Cove, the only Orange County beach where alcohol will be permitted is San Clemente State Park. San Onofre State Park, just over the county line, also allows alcohol.

“There haven’t been any alcohol-related problems at those beaches so there’s no reason to change at this time,” said Rich Gililland, chief ranger for the district that oversees state parks in San Diego County and south Orange County.

Alcohol was banned a year ago in the northern portion of Bolsa Chica and the day-use portion of Doheny State Beach, Gililland said.

The order for the latest rule changes is expected to be signed within the next few weeks by Jack Roggenbuck, superintendent for the state’s Orange Coast district, which manages state beaches north of Doheny. Usually a law would go into effect 30 days from that point, but Pryor said the ban may take effect immediately.

“That’s something that is still undecided,” Pryor said.

Beach-goers caught drinking at first will be given warnings. “We’ve trained the public to come down and imbibe on the beach, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for awhile,” Pryor said.

Pryor said the state is concerned about the possible loss of revenue from people who may stay away from the beaches because of the new rules. Visitors are charged $6 for parking. But past experience shows the blow is likely to be minimal, he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to lose that much revenue. When we stopped alcohol consumption at the north portion of Bolsa Chica we found that families started using the beach more because they felt it was a safe place to go without having to worry about drunks,” Pryor said.

In Saturday’s incident, the lifeguards suffered blows to the head when they tried to break up a fight among suspected gang members in a beach parking lot restroom at 11:15 p.m. While attempting to arrest one suspect, the lifeguards were attacked by about 15 others, according to police.

Lifeguard Mark Milligan was in fair condition at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center on Tuesday and is expected to be released within the next two days, hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson said.

Pryor would not release the name of the second lifeguard who was treated at Pacifica Community Hospital in Huntington Beach Saturday night, for fear of gang retaliation.

The lifeguards are state peace officers and are authorized to carry guns and make arrests, Pryor said.

Eleven suspects were arrested and are scheduled to be arraigned July 10.