Buzzkill: Alcohol Ban Extends to Last Remaining Beach

Cracking open a cold beer on the sand is looking more and more like a thing of the past, as the sweeping ban on alcohol consumption at San Diego County beaches will now extend to Silver Strand State Beach, the last bastion where alcohol was allowed to be consumed.

Officials with California State Parks have imposed a temporary alcohol ban from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 on the stretch of sand between Coronado and Imperial Beach. The ban doesn't apply to about 130 campsites, mostly RV parking spots, at the north end of the state park.

Over the July 4th weekend, Silver Strand was the only beach where alcohol could be consumed, and state park officials said there was an increase in the number of alcohol-related citations and arrests than typically at the state beach.

San Diego adopted a one-year emergency ordinance in January; city voters will decide in November whether the ban will become permanent. Del Mar initiated a summer ban on alcohol in May, followed a one-year ban by Solana Beach in June.

The bans stemmed from the increase in public unrest fueled by large crowds consuming alcohol amid local residents' complaints. The question is, are these sweeping ordinances penalizing those law abiding beach-goers who enjoy a beer or two on the sand? I myself have enjoyed sitting on the beach with a cooler of beer, and don't see anything wrong with allowing the consumption within reason, as anywhere else.

Is the ban on alcohol on beaches a good thing or is it all wet? What's your take?