If you’re over the age of 19, then it is once again that time of the year: you can legally drink at one of many Vancouver parks and beaches this summer.
Except, this year is a little different. In early 2025, the Vancouver park board approved the permanent consumption of alcohol at 7 Vancouver beaches. For two summers, these beaches were on trial for their drinking programs, and have now passed with flying colours. Now, everyone of legal drinking age can enjoy having a cold one on the beach.
The program will begin May 15 and run until September 30, 2025. You can have a drink anytime between 11am and 9pm daily.
7 Vancouver Beaches To Legally Drink in 2025
- Jericho Beach
- John Hendry Beach
- Kitsilano Beach
- Locarno Beach
- New Brighton
- Spanish Banks
- Stanley Park Second Beach
If you’d rather sit in the grass than on the sand, there are also parks that allow drinking year-round. There are also some that permit alcohol from July 1 to August 31. We list a handful of parks below, but you can also check here for a full, comprehensive list of where you can and cannot imbibe.
Parks Allowing Year-Round Drinking:
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Spanish Banks Beach Park
- Jericho Beach Park
- Granville Park
- Langara Park
- Stanley Park (Lumberman’s Arch)
- Stanley Park (Southwest and Second Beach)
Parks Allowing Drinking July 1 to August 31
- Collingwood Park
- Robson Park
- Memorial South Park
- Columbia Park
- Brewers Park
Do note that there are certain exclusions to this list. The Vancouver park board has English Bay Beach, Sunset Beach, CRAB Park Beach, Stanley Park Third Beach, and beaches along the Fraser River as exclusions to the permitted drinking-beach list. Please respect these areas and keep your Summer fun to the approved locations. And do drink responsibly, too!
With the new permanent beach programs in effect, this summer is shaping up to be a fun one. Get ready for some sunshine and a nice drink at the beach— or the park, if that’s more your style.
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