HIGHLANDS, NJ — Gateway National Recreation Area/Sandy Hook has banned alcohol entirely, the National Park Service announced Tuesday, April 2.

Alcoholic beverages are now entirely banned from being brought into Sandy Hook, the park announced Tuesday. Booze is banned from being brought onto beaches, parking lots, park grounds, picnic areas and boating docks. This change is effective immediately. Sandy Hook is a federally owned and maintained park, run by the National Park Service, and it's a popular spot for many New Jersey families to enjoy in the summertime. The problems arose because many other beaches along the Jersey Shore have long banned alcoholic beverages, so Sandy Hook became known as the place where people could bring booze, a park spokeswoman said.

"Sandy Hook has become a party beach," said Chief Ranger Greg Norman. "People don't come here for a beer, they come here for a six pack."

Between 2012 and 2016, 58 percent of the 919 arrests made at Sandy Hook were alcohol-related, said park spokeswoman Daphne Yun.

She also summarized a few of the booze-related mishaps that have happened at Sandy Hook in recent years: A man fell four feet off a loading dock because he thought it was a short cut between the snack area and the bathroom. A motor vehicle accident resulted in all four occupants being injured, two of whom had to be medevaced by helicopter out of the park. Another man passed out drunk in the sand with waves breaking over his head. These were just three of the 328 alcohol-related incidents at the Sandy Hook Unit between 2016 and 2018, she said.

"The ban is effective immediately, but this summer is going to be an introduction period, where we get park visitors used to this change," said Yun. "But citations will be issued to repeat offenders who keep bringing alcohol into the park. Fines start at $50 for the first offense, and then $100 for the second."

Yes, the no-alcohol rule will also apply at Gunnison Beach on Sandy Hook, New Jersey's only (legally) nude beach.

In fact, next Thursday, April 11 the National Park Service will hold an open house from 5-7 p.m. at the chapel on Sandy Hook park grounds to explain its new no-booze policy. This restriction will not affect visitors having weddings at the Sandy Hook Chapel or other permit holders, such as the former restaurant/bar that used to be open at Sandy Hook. Smoking has long been prohibited on beaches at Sandy Hook. Designated smoking areas can be found in all parking lots.