Ontario expanding areas where provincial park visitors can drink alcohol

Visitors of Ontario’s provincial parks will be able to start drinking alcohol in more areas starting this summer.

The province announced Wednesday that starting this summer, Ontarians 19 years or older can enjoy a beverage in most areas where staff are located and will not receive fines.

Provincial officials say this means alcohol consumption is allowed in areas like picnic areas, beaches and campsites. However, health and safety experts say this could invite more issues regarding reckless and dangerous behaviour.

“We recognize it’s 2026, not 1926,” said Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s minister of environment, conservation and parks. “It’s time that we embrace modernization and the responsible consumption of beer, wine and spirits in our parks.”

McCarthy says it is time to trust people in Ontario to act responsibly in provincial parks when it comes to having a beverage outdoors.

“Rowdy behaviour, harm to others, irresponsible disposal of products after they’re consumed, any noise issues, anything like that will be strictly enforced,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy says the province has more than 500 park wardens on staff and parks will have more signage indicating areas that are still alcohol-free.

The Ontario government stressed that the existing rules still apply for unsafe or unlawful behaviour, including public intoxication, underage drinking and having open or improperly stored alcohol in a motor vehicle or boat.

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The move appears to tie into Premier Doug Ford’s latest step to liberalize alcohol sales and use, including the recent green-lit measure to allow tailgating at cultural events.

Ford’s government enabled the changes in a red tape reduction bill last year and now says they will take effect for the 2026 season.

Last month, Ontario announced the expansion of tailgating rules allowing people to bring their own alcohol to public events.

“I have no particular issue. I just think it’s a ridiculous priority for the government. And I think, as usual, it’s an attempt by this government to distract,” said NDP Opposition Leader Marit Stiles.

Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser also criticized the move. “Too much booze, not enough health care. Too much booze, class sizes too large,” Fraser said.

Despite the province’s faith in safer parks, advocates on health and safety believe broader accessibility and loose restrictions will create problems, like excessive alcohol use.

“Binge drinking, that doesn’t get a lot of attention,” said Dr. Leslie Buckley with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “It’s really important; some people aren’t drinking alcohol very often, but when they do, they might be at risk for a possible accident.”

Meanwhile, there are also concerns regarding campers and picnic-goers who are consuming near a waterfront.

“The Lifesaving Society’s research shows that across Ontario, alcohol is a common factor in drownings,” said Stephanie Bakalar of Lifesaving Society Ontario. “So, we see about 30 to 40 per cent of drownings in the province happening in combination with alcohol consumption.”

The Lifesaving Society Ontario, an organization that certifies lifeguards, adds that unlike public pools, provincial waterfronts do not have requirements that demand lifeguards be on outdoor waterfronts. They say they’ve made recommendations to change that.

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