Mobile craft-beer trucks in Toronto parks could become a reality

Toronto'sParks and Environment committee will vote Friday on a recommendation to study the feasibility of allowingmobile craft beer trucks into city parks.

Mary-MargaretMcMahon(Ward 32 Beaches-East York), the committee's chair,proposedthestudy. Shesays the idea took root after avisit to aparksconference in Minneapolis where she learned of a similar program inPhiladelphia:Parks on Tap.

"If they can do it, we can do it," she told CBC Toronto.

Anyone drinking or selling alcohol in Toronto parks can only do so bypermitbut McMahon says there is currently a "colossal amount of bureaucratic red-tape to get a beer garden at an event."

Special arrangements, such asenclosedareaswhere alcohol is served and security, are typical requirements for the permits.

Steve Himel, general manager of Henderson Brewing says it's too costly.

"We've done a few events where even if we sell beer all weekend to an enthusiastic crowd, we come out losingmoney because of all the requirements the city asks of us," he said in an interview.

Small breweries excluded from local opportunities.

Himel says that as a small craft brewery, his company doesn't get the opportunity to connect with customers as much as the big manufacturers do.

"The idea of being able to get out into our community and introduce ourselves to people all throughout the city would be an incredible opportunity," he said.

Hebelieves that suchopportunities are more available to local entrepreneurs in other industries.

"Farmers' markets are packed with people experiencing artisans and small businesses in their community," he explained."We have been excluded from that as small brewers."

'There's not going to be pandemonium.'

McMahon agrees, saying the benefits, like showcasinglocal entrepreneurs, outweigh the opposition.

"It's not going to be pandemonium. It's not going to create open drunkenness in parks. It's just civilized beverage offerings," she said.

OliverLevai, a local resident, believes that craft beer trucks in parks are"a very innovative idea."

"Most people come to the park and bring alcohol with them anyway," said Levai."We might as well capitalize on that."

Levai adds howeverthat it may be a good idea to consider the initiative on a park-by-park basis."If you're going to go somewhere that's more child-related, you may have to veto what's acceptable and what's not, depending on the demographic that uses the park."

Councillor McMahonsays she is asking for a city-wide study.

"We have to figure out how and where people can drink," she said.

Drinking illegally in Toronto parks can result in a $360 fine. Nonetheless, McMahon says the realityis that people are already drinking in parks so there needs to be a "loosening up of those rules."

If approved, the study will be submitted byJanuary2018 and the next steps will be decided then.