Long Beach, Long Island, is holding a public hearing regarding the loosening of alcohol restrictions on its iconic boardwalk.<\/p>\n
The City Council debate begins Tuesday evening with a vote to follow.<\/p>\n
The proposal<\/p>\n
Long Beach City Council is tackling the polarizing topic of allowing boardwalk businesses to sell and serve booze following more than a decade of prohibition.<\/p>\n
The proposal does not allow taking drinks to the beach and boardwalk; the alcohol must be consumed on the business’ premises. \u00a0<\/p>\n
In recent years,\u00a0the city has been challenged<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0unauthorized parties<\/a>\u00a0and illegal gatherings posted on social media, with thousands responding,\u00a0leading to gunfire and arrests<\/a>.<\/p>\n Business owners and patrons who favor the loosened restrictions, however, say teen partygoers are not going to be the customers paying to sit inside a boardwalk restaurant and have a drink with dinner.<\/p>\n One restaurant, Allegria, already offers alcoholic beverages, and now others are vying for the right.<\/p>\n “I think it will be helpful to bring the people to come to Long Beach to have a good time and be respectful, just like in Rockaway and Jones Beach, where they have bars and restaurants on the boardwalk,” Long Beach City Council President Brendan Finn said.<\/p>\n He added, “Have a drink, look at the waves, eat some food.”<\/p>\n Long Beach considered a similar proposal in 2017<\/a>, but it was voted down<\/a>, led by the drug and alcohol prevention group Long Beach Aware<\/a>.<\/p>\n The reaction<\/p>\n The proposal got mixed reactions from people on the boardwalk Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n “If they can control it and keep it within their establishments, I think that’s OK,” one person said.<\/p>\n “There’s no reason why we can’t responsibly have a couple of drinks while we look at the sunset, enjoy the views,” one man said.<\/p>\n “Maybe they should sell non-alcoholic beer. That would be good,” another man said.<\/p>\n “Oh yeah, they are going to get drunk and go in the water, and it’s going to be dangerous,” another person said.<\/p>\n “Definitely don’t need more rowdy crowds because of the little ones,” one parent said.<\/p>\n