As graduation and the summer approach, there is bound to be an increase of youth and young adults celebrating the end of the school year and their accomplishments. Unfortunately, year after year, these parties make their way to public beaches and become a nuisance for residents in the area, families and the police. As a result, property is damaged, the beaches are littered with discarded bottles and cans, illegal beach fires are lit and the residents visiting or living in these areas are generally disturbed. Worse, underage youth are drinking to inebriation and there are still some that are drinking and driving. Already this year, there have been numerous youth parties reported in the Roberts Creek beaches. Recently, a park sign was lit on fire and destroyed.
As part of their Crime Reduction Strategy, the Sunshine Coast RCMP set aside a portion of their budget to fund the additional enforcement required to police and disperse these parties.
"Students are going to celebrate and we expect that, but we are asking them to do so responsibly," said Staff Sgt Herb Berdahl. "We will be out in full force this summer and we are taking a 'zero tolerance' against people found drinking in public. Youths and adults alike can expect to see police on the beaches, pouring out liquor and issuing fines. Public intoxication will not be tolerated."
The RCMP would also like to remind adults and youth alike of the new liquor statutes and increased liquor fines, which include:
Consume liquor in a public place - $230
Intoxicated in a public place - $115
Possess open liquor in a motor vehicle / public place - $230
Sell or give liquor to minor - Arrested / Court
Supply liquor to minor - Arrested / Court
Permit minor to consume alcohol in a place you control - Arrested / Court
Purchase by minor - $230
Consumption by minor - $230
Minor in Possession of alcohol - $230
-Submitted
