Alcohol in parks: is it an issue?
Denis Coderre says he wants to ban alcohol in parks after 8 p.m., but what’s the issue? Alcohol isn’t allowed in parks anyway, except with food.
We’ve discussed before how this rule is subject to interpretation – does “food” mean snacks, or a real picnic spread, and so on – so this seems to be an issue that doesn’t need fixing, and is just a premise for grandstanding.
A National Post opinion writer says Wednesday that public parks should be abolished – “when I see an urban park, I can’t help thinking it’s a waste of prime real estate” – and the land turned over to developers. Don’t tell Coderre or he’ll put condo towers on Dorchester Square.
j2 17:31 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
Well there’s been more drinking without food in parks during covid, and why not? It’s safer. As long as the line is drawn on public drunkenness, maybe we can be adults here.
Was the opinion writer shown twirling his evil moustache or are we just supposed to imagine it?
Ephraim 18:14 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
What’s the point of the rule/law? People are adults. Let’s get over it and just let people drink anywhere. Instead out of bags, hiding it, in other containers, etc. Seriously, it’s not something that the police could police… and worse, they will end up using it against some people, like the homeless. Are they going to stop people smoking pot in the parks? Stop them drinking soda? How can you tell if it’s in a flask or an aluminum bottle. It’s silliness for the point of politics.
Kate 18:42 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
If you ask me, Coderre floated this to push his “texting while driving” story off the front page.
david648 21:21 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
He alllllmost had my vote, but this reminds me that I hate him..
JaneyB 21:49 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
Is this guy actually trying to get votes with this stance? Seriously. No Montrealers will support this and no cops would enforce it.
walkerp 23:32 on 2021-06-02 Permalink
He’s throwing this one out as a bone to his developer and bar-owner friends. I was walking through the park and thought it would be a perfect canvassing opportunity for PM. Just have a flyer with a picture of Coderre saying “this man wants you to stop drinking 30 minutes ago. Here is how you can register to vote to make sure he can’t do that.”
Joey 07:42 on 2021-06-03 Permalink
That Jesse Kline column is almost as dumb as Ken Whyte’s essay on the need to end libraries to save the publishing industry in the Globe a few months ago.
su 08:56 on 2021-06-03 Permalink
I was wondering about the recent emergence of the PPP Toronto based nonprofit PARKSPEOPLE recent manifestations in Montréal and local media . Parks have been a huge subject lately.
Su 08:58 on 2021-06-03 Permalink
Oops. PARK PEOPLE. https://parkpeople.ca/
EB 09:23 on 2021-06-04 Permalink
I forgot what happened to Immortan Joe at the end of Mad Max: Fury Road, but if he didn’t die, I’m pretty sure he could get a gig writing opinion pieces at the National Post.