Kenney says he'll end 'war on fun' by easing liquor laws in Alberta's parks, summer festivals

You'll be able to legally drink beer in all of Alberta's provincial parks this May long weekend, Premier Jason Kenney announced Thursday but only in your campsite.

"Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun," Kenneysaid in Calgary.

The premiersays he will lift bans on liquor consumption in eightparks where restrictions have been in place:

• Aspen Beach.
• Miquelon Lake.
• Garner Lake.
• Dillberry Lake.
• Pigeon Lake.
• Whitney Lakes.
• Jarvis Bay.
• Wabamun.

"The vast majority of Albertans who enjoy our provincial parks do so responsibly. We should not punish the majority of responsible campers through liquor bans because of the past behaviour of a few bad characters," Jason Nixon, minister of Environment and Parks, said in a statement.

Since 2004, liquor bans have beenin effect during the May long weekendat select provincial parks and campgrounds in Alberta to deter "excessive partying," according to Alberta Parks' website.

Under theGaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, liquor is also prohibitedon roads, trails and beaches,in washrooms and cook sheltersand in day use areas/picnic sites. The province says those rules will remain in place, with liquor consumption restricted to adults and campsites only.

Picnic sites, festivals to also see relaxed rules

But Kenney also vowed to relaxliquor regulations atselect provincial park day use area picnic sites later this summer.

The province says rulesaround quiet times, excessive noise and "appropriate behaviour" will remainin place. The plan is to shiftenforcement staff from policingthe liquor ban to watching for people behaving badly.

Kenney also announced plans toremove"unnecessary red tape" for festival organizers withevents inprovincial parks and municipalities around Alberta.

The province says clarified regulations from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) willallow event organizers the flexibility to serve drinks "where they see fit on festival grounds."

"In the future, people will be able to grab a beer, walk around a summer festival in this provincewithout fear of being arrested, or ticketed, or fined," Kenney said.

"If they can do this in pretty much every country of Europe, I think we can treat Albertans as responsible grownups as well."

But some Albertans are taking the news cautiously.

"If people can behave in a campground, then I think it's absolutely appropriate. But if they're not in control of their alcohol use, then it's concerning, especially because campgrounds have lots of families," said Calgarian Paula Rempel.

Sid Giroux from Okotoks echoed those sentiments."I just hope we can be responsible enough to handle it.I mean, I think it's okay, but just be responsible when you're at the campsite."