Booze on the beach and legal graffiti? COVID-19 prompts Vernon council to think outside the box

The City of Vernon is looking into the possibility of allowing alcohol to be consumed in public spaces.

At today's council meeting, Vernon councillor Scott Anderson put forward the idea of allowing public drinking. Anderson said he didn’t know what this would look like, but requested staff to get back to council with a report on the issue.

The councillor pointed to the City of Penticton which has been one of several cities around B.C. to write to the province in favour of changing the current liquor laws.

The idea would allow people to purchase take-out food and alcohol and then head to local parks and beaches for a picnic. The move is seen as a way to stimulate the food and drink industry currently heavily restricted by COVID-19 social distancing measures.

Councillor Akbal Mund said he did not support the plan, as people would take their own alcohol and restaurants would lose out.

With graduation ceremonies cancelled due to the pandemic, Coun. Brian Quiring put forward the idea to allow graduating students to graffiti their names on Suicide Hill. Quiring said he’d been approached by a member of the public to allow students to write their names on a part of 30 Avenue, known locally as Suicide Hill, as has become a local tradition. The Vernon Library and Archives has photos from the Vernon Daily News of the graduation class of 1978 writing their names on the street. City staff will return with a report on the proposal for council to vote on at its next meeting.