Change in alcohol policy is welcome, likely won’t result in carousing
We support the proposal to allow for the consumption of personal alcohol in Creemore Village Green, even if it’s for a trial period.
The Liquor Licence and Control Act was amended in 2019 to give municipal councils the opportunity to change their bylaws to designate a public place, including parks, for personal alcohol consumption. If the municipality allows this change at Creemore Village Green, as proposed at Monday’s council meeting, it should be done in the spirit in which we believe it was intended, which is to allow for the casual enhanced use of park space in the province.
The reality is that it is unlikely hordes of people will flock to the park with a bottle of wine or a six pack in hand.
As much as we like to think of Creemore as a vibrant village, the truth is that most evenings – even in the summer months – the sidewalks are rolled up at 5 p.m. and there is little activity. Creemore has two restaurants on the main street with indoor and patio seating that remain open in the evenings. Otherwise there is no nightlife to speak of, unless there is a special event or one of the cafes stays open with a special offer.
It’s hard to image that given the opportunity, an unruly crowd of wine connoisseurs would make trouble in the park on a daily basis. Its absurd to require Creemore Village Green to hire security guards to patrol the park, especially on days when nothing is happening there. That security guard would be bored stiff most of the time, and it never goes well when overeager security is trying to justify their existence by being overhanded in their enforcement.
A romantic picnic in the park would be less enjoyable with a security guard staring you down and asking for ID.
Most alcohol consumption is done in moderation and we expect it will be no different if it is allowed at Creemore Village Green.
Like any park, Creemore Village Green is underutilized much of the time but under the right circumstances it draws people for some entertainment, coffee with friends, or a romp in the splash pad. With limited options for evening dining in Creemore, allowing alcohol in the park could indeed enhance the park experience, especially if it caused people to linger after a program like Sundays in the Park or the Creemore Farmers’ Market.
It’s hard to know how it would go without a pilot project at the very least, but its best to set moral judgements aside. Alcohol is legal in Ontario for anyone 19 and older. Most navigate that safely and without incident. As adults, we are entrusted by the law to consume alcohol in public so we should be able to do so in the park.
