Council Presidents Scott Peters said yesterday that he will likely endorse banning alcohol on the beach, tipping a City Council majority in favor of a proposal that has gained momentum since beachgoers clashed with police on Labor Day.
The ban being proposed by Councilman Kevin Faulconer would ban drinking year-round at all of the beaches in his District 2 communities: Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Mission Bay Park.
Some beaches in Peters’ district, including La Jolla Shores, already have an alcohol ban in place.
“It’s really working great in La Jolla, it’s really lent to an atmosphere that accommodates families and good residential areas, so I would support Kevin,” Peters said.
But coupling bans at District 2 beaches and select beaches in Peters’ district would create a regulatory gap. Peters fears that other beaches in his district that aren’t currently touched by the ban, such as Windansea, could absorb all of the demand for beach drinking unless they are included.
“I don’t want to leave any orphan public beaches,” Peters said.
Five votes would be needed to adopt the measure. In addition to Faulconer and Peters, Council members Toni Atkins, Donna Frye and Ben Hueso said they are supportive of a ban.
Councilmen Tony Young and Jim Madaffer have said they are reluctant to support it. Councilman Brian Maienschein hasn’t made up his mind, a spokesman said.