You Can Officially Drink In Public In Vancouver Starting Today But Only At 4 Tiny Parks
Attention all Vancouverites: after months of deliberation, the city finally legalized public drinking in Vancouver. The catch is, it's only legal at four city spaces now. This pilot project has already begun — starting today, you can finally enjoy a cold one while basking in the sun.
On Monday, August 10, the City of Vancouver has started a temporary pilot program to let locals drink in public. The project will run now until mid-October, 2020.
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Beginning that very day, it is legal to drink alcohol in the following four parks during the ascribed times:
- šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square - Vancouver Art Gallery, North Plaza from 12 to 9 p.m.
- Lot 19 - Hornby and W. Hastings from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Bute-Robson Plaza, South Plaza from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- 17th & Cambie Temporary Plaza from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
"The goal of the pilot program is to allow people to drink alcohol outside, where physical distancing is easier," reads a city news release.
"This initiative also supports equity for people without access to private outdoor spaces."
Each of the four sites are "highly visible and in a high-traffic area." They also have access to food and are close to transit stations.
The project is being run by four local Business Improvement Associations (BIAs).
Different BIAs submitted proposals for areas to the city before; those four were chosen based on specific guidelines set with help from police and the health authority.
"City staff are working closely with VPD and pilot partners to identify, mitigate, and plan for risks associated with this work," read the release.
Vancouver is the latest municipality in the area to test public drinking out as North Vancouver and Port Coquitlam already have similar projects underway.
The plan of public drinking in Vancouver was proposed all the way back in May when one city councillor brought up the idea just in time for summer.
After much bureaucratic back and forth, locals will be glad to know that they can responsibly enjoy a beverage outside while there's still some summer sun.