Re: “OTL tournament exempted from alcohol ban,” June 19 Beacon, page 1). ”
The article about the Over-the-Line Tournament and the beach alcohol ban was somewhat misleading.
Throughout the discussions of a possible beach alcohol ban, it was made clear that organizers of special events like OTL could get permits from the city for their events.
The purpose of the alcohol-free beach ordinance was to reduce underage drinking and binge drinking that result in public health and safety problems. Noise, public urination and fights are issues that arise when large groups of people drink heavily on the beach. And when no one is responsible for the actions of these groups, maintaining peace on the sand becomes a challenge for cops and lifeguards.
The worst-case scenario was the riot in Pacific Beach last Labor Day, but other problems occur continuously on a smaller scale.
With well-run events like the OTL Tournament, the organizers take on the responsibility of keeping the peace and making sure their event is enjoyable for everyone. Bad behavior simply isn’t tolerated. The kinds of problems that inspired the alcohol-free beach ordinance are greatly reduced if not eliminated entirely. That’s why there is a process for acquiring special event permits.