Kingston Mayor open to having people bring their own booze to events

Bryan Paterson says he doesn't have any issue after the Province announced it is expanding tailgating permits beyond sporting venues.

Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson doesn't seem to have any issue with people bringing their own alcohol to events in the city.

The province announced last week that they plan on expanding tailgating permits beyond sporting venues. This would allow people to bring and consume their own alcohol at certain events, including farmer's markets and festivals.

Paterson believes this will only bring more people into the downtown where most of the events will take place.

In a news release, the Province say municipalities will be required to pass a bylaw authorizing the use of alcohol in public, if they do not already have one in place. They would also have to establish a local process that would determine whether an event qualifies as community or cultural. 

Paterson says the City will do their best to accommodate these changes.

Perhaps unlike other small to medium-sized municipalities in Ontario, Kingston is home to tens of thousands of post-secondary students during the school year. Celebrations like this past St. Patrick's Day often see large gatherings around the university district leading police and city by-law enforcement to ensure nothing gets out of hand.

Paterson says he hasn't heard of any concerns from police or the City about this.

He says if there are, it would have to be brought up to the Province.

Event organizers will be able to apply for bring-your-own permits through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) starting April 30.

Story by Ken Hashizume