Summer weather is here, and no, you still can't drink on the beach in Grand Bend

Lambton County OPP and Lambton Shores Mayor Doug Cook are warning beach goers that it is still illegal to drink alcohol while enjoying the sun and the sand. 

"It's zero tolerance," said Cook, whose jurisdiction includes Grand Bend. "Our bylaw folks, they will automatically write a ticket."

OPP officers are also walking the beach in Grand Bend this summer. On the May long weekend, bylaw and OPP together issued 24 tickets and charges. 

"The penalties vary from $65 to $215 fines or even a court date, depending on the infraction," said OPP Cst. Jamie Bydeley. 

Those infractions include:

"The town of Grand Bend does not have licensing that allows individuals to carry or consume open liquor on sidewalks, beaches, streets or parking lots," said Bydeley. It's also illegal to drink at Sauble Beach, and at the beach in Port Stanley.

In recent years, there has been a movement in some Canadian cities and towns to loosen drinking restrictions at public parks and beaches. In fact, beginning today in Vancouver until Sept. 23, people will be able to consume alcohol at seven of the city's beaches.

Last month, the city of Toronto voted to support a motion to develop a pilot program allowing personal alcohol consumption in some city parks this summer, and since 2021, the city of Calgary has allowed drinking in certain designated parks and green spaces.

Mom of four, Serena Ellwood, 42 of Essex, Ont., spent last weekend kid-free at the beach in Grand Bend with her longtime friend. 

"We packed a nice cooler," she said. "Since we are over 19, we had some yummy beverages in there from the liquor store and some waters too, 'cause you always have to mix that up," said Ellwood who was not one of the people who got a ticket.

"We're in our 40s. We are responsible," she said.

Plus, it's easy to forget the rules when people go to the beach for a mini vacation, she said. "You're served on the beach in Mexico, you're served in the pool so maybe people have that kind of vacation-mode in mind."

"What we saw on the long weekend was a very heavy police presence in town," said Tanya Ross, co-owner of the longtime Grand Bend ice cream and pizza shop, The Dairy Dip. "It almost felt like there were more police than visitors."

Plus, because there aren't as many bars in Grand Bend anymore, the party culture has faded, she said.