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Examining San Diego’s Beach Alcohol Ban: Evidence for Success

December 6th, 2010Kathleen Lippitt, MPH, Robert Hall

For powerpoint copies, email klippitt@saysandiego.org or rhall@saysandiego.org

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JAN 1990City council rejects a committee for a beach alcohol banAUG 1990Test ban begins at La Jolla Shores with nighttime restrictions on boardwalk and some parks. Police later made restrictions permanent.FEB 1991City Council approves alcohol-free policy on all beaches, effective April 17, 1991FEB 1991People to Ban the Ban begin to collect signatures against banAPR 1991Alcohol ordinance goes into effect for a few hours, but suspended upon presentation of referendum signaturesMAY 1991Council votes to rescind ban rather than place on ballotJUN 1991Following beach and bay violence City Council bans drinking on boardwalk/seawall and from 8pm to 8amJUL 1991Council puts 24-hour ban on Jun 2002 ballotFEB 1992Beach crime is down. Council removes 24-hr ban from Jun ballotJUL 1995City Council rejects 90-day triail ban prompted by beach shootingsAUG 199512-hour ban expanded to cover all beachesDEC 2000Residents request 24-hour ban at Mission BeachAPR 2001•City Council approves 18-month trial ban at some beaches to begin Jun 1•Opponents organize and collect signatures opposing trial banMAR 2002 Proposition G defeated by a narrow margin. Ban opponents outspend supporters ten to one.JUN 2005Five Pacific Beach Residents form Savepb.org to help solve community problems. The group’s first meeting draws more than 100 people.AUG 2005•Savepb.org survey showing top four community problems are all alcohol-related•Save PB.org members organize a forum for the second district candidatesAUG 2006Councilmember Faulconer forms Beach Alcohol Task Force (BATF)JUN 2007After meeting for nine months, BATF concludes with no recommendations regarding alcohol on the beachesSEP 2007•Labor Day riot brings national attention to beach alcohol issues. Police in riot gear contain the melee to the sand. Councilmember Faulconer calls for alcohol-free beaches•Beach area advocates form Safebeaches.org•Safebeaches.Org website officially launchedOCT 2007Alcohol-free beaches proposal is heard by Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Committee forwarded all four proposals to full City Council. JAN 2008•Referendum failed due to an insufficient number of valid signatures.•Alcohol-free beaches trial begins with Union Tribune Editorial Board Editors convinced to support alcohol-free beaches proposal

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November 7, 2007

Drinking Games

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July 5, 2007 - Pacific Beach

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0.00%

500.00%

1000.00%

1500.00%

2000.00%

2500.00%

3000.00%

3500.00%

4000.00%

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?Alcohol-related Crime in San Diego by Census Tract

2005

C O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T Y

PE

RC

EN

T O

F T

RA

CT

AV

ER

AG

E .

PE

RC

EN

T O

F T

RA

CT

AV

ER

AG

E .

Mission Beach/Bay Park

Census Tract-7600

Pacific Beach Census Tract-

7901

Ocean Beach Census Tract-

7502

City-wide tract average

for alcohol violations

1977 alcohol violations

(34 times citywide average)

1537 alcohol violations(26 times the citywide average)

654 alcohol violations(11 times the citywide

average)

58 violations

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March 2007 Labor Day Riot

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An organized community

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Going to the voters day and…

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… night

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The party’s over: Beach booze ban is permanent

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Minors in Possession of Alcohol Citywide vs Minors in Possession of Alcohol in Beach Front Neighborhoods

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July 5, 2007 - Pacific Beach

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July 5, 2008 - Pacific Beach

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October 2008 – Alcohol Free Beaches Trial