Gatineau rules out open alcohol at city parks, beaches

The City of Gatineauhas crushed the idea of allowing adults to drink beer and other alcohol in municipal parks this summer.

The city had consideredallowingopen drinking in parks, following similar moves by other Quebec municipalities,so people could drink outside and enjoy themselves whilekeeping a safe distanceaway from others during the pandemic.

But Gatineau's executive committee ruled that option out, said Coun. Rene Amyot, chair of Gatineau'shealth commission, on Tuesday.

Crowded parks and a significant amount of garbage left at parc des Cdres in the city's Aylmer neighbourhood on the weekendinfluenced the decision to cancel the plans, said Amyot.

Coun. Audrey Bureau, who represents Aylmer, said group gatherings and garbagehas been an ongoingissue ever since the lockdownbegan.

"There is a lot of alcohol consumption, it creates a lot of problems," she said.

"When we get to the point where our city crews have to clean the beach twice a day, it's because people really don't show civility," she said in a French-language interview.

Bureau said the city's reopening could explain some of the misconduct, but she also believes the city may have been too lenient up until this point.

"There really is a party culture taking hold," she said.

Gatineau police said officers didn't hand out any ticketsrelated to the consumption of alcohol in the parks or non-compliance with public health regulations last weekend;however, it said it has not ruled out the possibility ofstepping up enforcement if the situation gets worse.