Image Credit: Shutterstock
May 25, 2020 - 3:57 PM
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.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020