I've been to a few parks that allowed uncontrolled imbibing (mostly private) and things weren't good- occasional brawls, lots of garbage, and lots of people ignoring all the other rules. One park got so out of control the owners started having the police do regular patrols and eventually shut down.
I really don't understand Ford's fixation with booze...

andy wrote:

Woohoo, if anyone sees someone with a beer can hat paddling across Opeongo at 8am on May 2nd into a stiff headwind  that will be me.

Not quite what you're saying, but just as an FYI, if you have an open can/bottle in a canoe that's still treated identically to drinking and driving (i.e. a criminal charge, license suspension, etc).

TripperMike wrote:

This is something most responsible consumers have been doing for decades.  Other than not having to conceal a beer in a Yeti mug, nothing else will change.  The bad apples that ruin it for everyone will continue to do so, just in a much more open setting. 

 
I agree - people have been bringing alcohol into parks for years, whether it was permitted or not. That said, I do have some practical concerns. Policies like this tend to work well for the majority who act responsibly, but they can also enable a small number of people to overdo it simply because the restriction is gone. That raises questions about enforcement, especially given the added pressure on park wardens and the recent shift involving OPP oversight along the Highway 60 corridor.

There’s also the environmental side to consider. Even with backcountry rules still prohibiting cans and bottles, it’s hard not to anticipate an increase in litter, including broken glass, in more accessible areas. Parks already rely heavily on personal responsibility, and this change may test those limits.

At the end of the day, people who want to drink in parks have always found a way. So I’m not sure making a big public change like this was really necessary, rather than just continuing to focus on responsible use and keeping parks clean.