LONG BEACH, Long Island (WABC) — The Long Beach City Council is considering a major change to the city’s alcohol laws.<\/p>\n
Under a new proposal, restaurants on the boardwalk would be allowed to sell alcohol.<\/p>\n
Those behind it say changes could reshape Long Island’s popular summer destination.<\/p>\n
The proposed policy change does not change the fact that you cannot carry alcohol or drink on the boardwalk or beach.<\/p>\n
However, it would make it easier for business owners at the boardwalk to sell alcohol at their establishments.<\/p>\n
Residents weighed in ahead of the public hearing at City Hall.<\/p>\n
“I think you have to be careful for safety reasons,” Susan Hoffman said.<\/p>\n
“It’s probably a good idea because business will prosper up here,” Ray Miley said.<\/p>\n
The most recent effort to lift the ban with a similar proposal was shot down in 2017.<\/p>\n
“I think the residents would benefit from it. The businesses would benefit and the city would benefit from it,” Brendan Finn, Long Beach City Council President, said.<\/p>\n
Finn is part of the five-member city council, casting the vote.<\/p>\n
“To our west, Rockaway has many successful bar restaurants right there on the boardwalk, concession stands, and to our east, Jones Beach has a great bar and restaurant as well. Why is Long Beach left out of that?” Finn said.<\/p>\n
City rules currently allow businesses with openings onto the boardwalk to sell only non-alcoholic beverages while also banning new drinking establishments from getting licenses citywide.<\/p>\n
The goal of the current city code is to prevent criminal mischief, vandalism and loud noise.<\/p>\n
There are exceptions, including Bright Eye Brewery on Park Avenue.<\/p>\n
It was able to bypass the restrictions by getting approval from the zoning board.<\/p>\n
“It’s unnecessary. It takes away one of the protective factors that we have for kids,” Judi Vining said.<\/p>\n
Vining heads the state-funded drug and alcohol prevention nonprofit called Long Beach Aware.<\/p>\n
“There’s a ton of research that I can give you the citations that the number of establishments is directly correlated with the amount of underage drinking in that community. It normalizes it for kids,” Vining said.<\/p>\n
She says another concern is the potential additional public safety resources needed for crowd control.<\/p>\n
“I’ve spoken with the police commissioner. I have spoken with a couple of the officials in the police department and they’re very proactive right here and I feel that the safety factor has increased on our time on the council,” Finn said.<\/p>\n
City officials emphasized that the policy change would not allow carrying alcohol or drinking directly on the boardwalk or beach.<\/p>\n
Still, some are concerned about serving alcohol to businesses so close to the ocean.<\/p>\n
Susan Hoffman\/Roslyn “If you could have it here and there, go run out there, it could be dangerous,” Susan Hoffman said.<\/p>\n
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