Longueuil follows in Montreal's footsteps and officially authorizes the consumption of alcohol in most of its municipal parks, provided that it is accompanied by a full meal and everything in moderation.
Mayor Catherine Fournier's administration announced Wednesday that last year's pilot project had “conclusive” results, with no specific harm.
In fact it has been allowed since 2023 to consume alcoholic beverages in Parc de la Cité, Parc Saint-Marc and Saint-Jean-Baptiste square, but this standard has not yet been extended generally.
“We know that people like to gather in parks for events like picnics and friendly and family gatherings. That is why, like many other cities in Quebec, we are officially authorizing this practice, which we know already exists in our territory, to better control it,” Mayor Fournier indicated in a press release.
However, it invites the population to “exhibit good citizenship and decorum as well as to consume responsibly and properly dispose of waste in the areas established by regulation”.
The regulation adopted on Wednesday maintains a ban on the consumption of alcohol in children's play areas, including water games, as well as in sports areas such as stands, buildings or park chalets. Alcohol consumption at Bois du Tremblay will also be prohibited for the time being.
Priory, barbecues and fires are also banned in Longueuil parks, with no new details given on the matter on Wednesday.
On the north coast, in Laval, a pilot project launched without fanfare last year is also testing alcohol and barbecues in a park. To this day, you can eat and drink in picnic areas in Bernard-Landry, Berthiaume-du-Tremblay, Legare, Champfleury, Jolibourg, Center de la Nature and Prevost parks. Displays have just been added in these areas. So this is the same principle as on the island of Montreal with a few exceptions.
Laval and Montreal also allow the use of barbecues in parks, but under certain conditions. Among other things, only butane and propane appliances are allowed.
