The Booze Ban frenzy has reached Torrey Pines. Fearing rioters will move their rioting to other beaches Torry Pines will be the next in line to enact the controversial ban. District superintendent Ronilee Clark said blogs had been highlighting the Torrey Pines exemption. Once she signs the ban into effect drinking alcohol at Torrey Pines beach will cease April 1st
That whittles to three the number of beaches in the county where drinking is allowed: Del Mar, Solana Beach and the Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado.
Drinking will continue to be allowed at the state beach in Coronado because problems aren't expected to arise there, Clark said.
Drinking is not allowed at the four other state beaches in the county: Cardiff, San Elijo, South Carlsbad and Carlsbad State, all in North County. Historically, there have been problems with drinking at those beaches, which is why it was banned, Clark said.
Although others admit there had not been issues previously, ban opponents could not stop what is becoming the inevitable solution to the beach melee
Allowing alcohol hasn't led to serious problems, said Brian Ketterer, sector supervisor for the area. On the south end, near Black's Beach, some underage drinking went on, and policing it took extra resources, he said.
The ban will free up lifeguards to do more vital work, Ketterer said.
Those who fought the city's ban said they're not surprised by this latest restriction.
"You're going to continue to see such punishments spiral," said Jacob Pyle, a member of the group FreePB, which opposed the ban.
UPDATE on 03/10/2008 08:03 am:
Michael Stetz from the Union Tribune has an article on the other activities banned on San Diego beaches. Apparently surfing is illegal on San Diego beaches
In Del Mar, for instance, hitting golf balls and playing horseshoes on the beach are not allowed. It's about safety concerns, said Mark Rathsam, deputy director of Del Mar Lifeguards, and the worry that wayward golf balls could end up in the ocean.
That's nothing compared to San Diego beaches, where it's against the law, technically at least, "to play any game of ball or engage in any sport," according to the city's municipal code.
Toss a Frisbee or chuck a football and there could be consequences. Lifeguards "do monitor it at times for safety concerns and will enforce it," said Lt. John Greenhalgh, of the city's Lifeguard Services.
In Coronado, kite-flying is prohibited along most of the beach, but there's a good reason. Kites could interfere with aircraft using the nearby Naval Air Station North Island.
At several beaches, it's against the law for beach-goers to pitch tents, even during the day. People might use the cover to do something illicit, different lifeguard agencies said.
Four years ago, San Diego banned furniture at the beach because people were hauling out old couches and recliners to sit on, then leaving them there.
The use of fire rings, which have burned several children over the years, became limited, too. They can't be used from midnight to 6 a.m.
UPDATE on 03/10/2008 08:18 am:
The law banning sports at the beach is on page 5 of the city municipal code (pdf document)
