Should Alcohol Be Allowed in Burnaby Parks?
Official title: Alcohol in Parks
Why This Matters
Like having a beer at a picnic? This affects you. Burnaby now allows responsible drinking in all city parks. Parents might wonder about safety near playgrounds—but those areas are off-limits for alcohol.
What Could Change
The bylaw is already in effect as of June 2024. Drinking is now allowed in all Burnaby parks from dawn to dusk, except within 10 metres of playgrounds, sports fields, spray parks, pools, skate bowls, and parking lots. Trails and forested areas are also off-limits.
Key Issues
- Where should alcohol consumption be restricted within parks?
- How should the city monitor and enforce responsible drinking rules?
What Happened
The pilot program ran from July 1 to October 31, 2023. Forty-five residents responded to the survey, and there was no notable increase in complaints to City Bylaw Enforcement or the RCMP. Based on these results, Council directed staff to create a permanent city-wide program, which came into effect on June 24, 2024.