B.C.'s new attorney general, Suzanne Anton, has a great idea: Treat adults like adults.
Last month, she announced that her government is reviewing rules that prohibit drinking at our parks and beaches.
I say bravo to that, let's get rid of yet another piece of our antiquated alcohol legislation.
Picture a romantic evening on White Pine beach. You're laying there with your special someone as the sun is setting, you hear the waves crashing against the shore while the soothing musical stylings of Michael Bublé are emanating from your iPhone.
The only thing that would make this day even more special is a glass of pinot noir from the Okanagan.
But, as of now, our current legislation ruins your magical evening puts an abrupt stop to your magical evening.
Those of us who are over the age of 19 are adults and we should be treated as such. We should be able to enjoy a glass of wine or a couple of beers at our parks and beaches as long as we're not impeding in the enjoyment of others.
I understand the opposition to this. Some feel that alcohol at beaches will lead to more incidences of drinking and driving.
Using that logic, however, we should ban drinking at all places except your home.
British Columbia already has some of the strictest drinking and driving laws in the country - maybe those should just be enforced.
There's also the issue of drunken, rowdy young people in their late teens or early 20s running amok at our beaches. But if officers are already enforcing no-alcohol rules, can't they just shift their focus to these kinds of abuses?
Arrest those people who are excessively drunk or making a nuisance of themselves. It's as simple as that. Don't let a few yahoos ruin it for the rest of us.
The BC Liberal government has made some significant strides in updating our liquor laws. Over the past couple of years, they've made it legal to bring your wine to restaurants, sell alcohol in adult-only theatres and have allowed caterers to acquire liquor licences.
Allowing responsible adults to drink at parks and beaches is the next logical step.
