Open Container Ban on the Boardwalk Overturned

The Star-bellied sneetch is not superior to the non-starbellied sneetch...all sneetches are equal

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners has voted, by a 3-2 margin, to let the open container ban at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk sunset.

This will effectively end the prohibition on walking around the boardwalk with open containers of alcoholic beverages.  But in reality, I do not believe much (with the exception of the signage) will change.  To those with whom I have spoken and who frequent the boardwalk and who are very familiar with the issue--the problem is a lack of enforcement.

"They are not enforcing the current rule, so what good is this rule if it is not being enforced?" asked one individual with whom I recently communicated on this topic.

These drinks were purchased at one licensed premise, then carried
out of that licensed premise out on to the boardwalk-in direct
violation of our existing ordinance

"Just look at the pictures--these kids walked illegally from Bamboo Willies to sit at those seats outside of another account."  (see pictures on the right and below) When reacting to accounts of a 10-minute fight posted online from the boardwalk---this same source asked a really straightforward, rational question...



"Where were the deputies during the 10-minute fight?!?"

For my part, I was willing to give it a year, and that is why I compromised last year and voted to go forward with the ban for 2017 and then to evaluate data this year.  I did not and I do not want to punish the hard working, blue-collar worker who makes $400 a week, wants to unwind at the seashell, and can't afford a $100 bar tab--but who still wants to go where the action is and enjoy a couple of beers on the boardwalk.  Why should I punish him?  Answer, I won't.  And I also won't banish him to some dark and empty corner of the sandy beach like he's somehow inferior to those that can afford high-dollar cocktails at the boardwalk clubs--like a modern-day version of "The Sneetches."  So I voted last year the way I did to compromise, ahead of the year's data which I have now analyzed.....

The data is in:  Alcohol sales are stable, slightly increasing;  Crime--year over year many infractions have gone way up. So the ban had no effect on crime on the boardwalk.

Therefore, the board voted to end the ban.

I was provided this picture from a recent Friday evening, of folks strolling on the boardwalk, outside of licensed premises carrying open containers of alcoholic beverages in violation of our existing ordinance--and state beverage law!

I think going forward we need more security at the boardwalk, more enforcement of existing beverage law (no moving from licensed premise to licensed premise with mixed drinks, no selling

 mixed drinks for off-premise consumption or selling mixed drinks off the licensed premise [e.g. cocktail waitresses selling mixed cocktails on mom's beach from the boardwalk], and if there are



fights and problems--remove the instigators and the hooligans--don't punish us all!!)

I was provided this picture of a recent evening on the boardwalk by a source that is familiar with this issue and
who states that the existing law is not being enforced

I was provided this picture of a recent evening on the boardwalk by a source that is familiar with this issue and
who states that the existing law is not being enforced

 I was provided this picture of a recent evening on the boardwalk by a source that is familiar with this issue and
who states that the existing law is not being enforced

I look forward to seeing how this progresses in the year ahead, and I look forward to greater enforcement of existing rules on the boardwalk so that every visitor to that location can have a pleasant, enjoyable experience at our beach!