5 / 5 ( 1 vote )

This event will be hosted and mediated by Councillor Mike Layton.

Date: Thursday, July 4 at 6:00 pm

Location: Trinity Bellwoods Community Centre, Assembly Hall

In attendance:

-City of Toronto Representatives from Parks and Recreations

-Municipal Licensing and Standards

-Toronto Police Services, 14 Division

Everyone is welcome.

Eamon McGrath said:

The notion of punishing people for consuming–and enjoying–alcohol in a public place, particularly in a city where most of its residents do not have the luxury of having a private outdoor area to consume it, is ridiculous and absurd.

When people gather in Trinity Bellwoods in the summer time to socialize and converse over a bottle of wine or case of beer, no more harm is created socially than at 2:30am outside of a bar. In fact, the consequences are probably less because people generally have more respect for a public park than they do the street.

In Europe, it’s been proven that people are capable of making responsible and reasonable decisions regarding the consumption of alcohol in public, and it’s incredibly frustrating as a Canadian to see individuals in our own country treated like children or irresponsible when it come to this issue here.

To me, this matter seems like more a testament to people who have too much time on their hands complaining about something not worth complaining about than it is a matter of debate over the problems created by the public consumption of alcohol. If you’re bothered by people drinking outdoors in the summer and enjoying their lives, I suggest you just stay home with the air conditioner on.