Ontario expands BYOB permits to festivals, markets and community events

The Ontario government is expanding tailgating rules to allow people to bring their own alcohol to public events.

The province is changing the tailgate event permit to become the “bring-your-own” event permit, which would allow people to bring their own alcohol to drink at public events, to support local tourism and drive economic growth.

The permit change will be enabled through an amendment to a regulation under the Liquor Licence and Control Act.

Premier Doug Ford says people are already allowed to drink in parks and at festivals, and they have done so responsibly.

The events the permit would cover include municipally designated cultural or community outdoor public events, including farmer’s markets, movie screenings, art exhibits and neighbourhood festivals.

Before, only event organizers of live sporting events were able to get this type of permit.

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“Our government is always working to find new ways to empower local communities, boost economic activity and increase tourism,” Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement released Tuesday.

“By giving Ontario municipalities the choice to make use of this new initiative, our government is directly contributing to their economic well-being while ensuring adults can continue to safely and responsibly enjoy their favourite products.”

The province said in the statement that it will put it to municipalities to pass a bylaw to authorize the use of alcohol in public, if they don’t already have one in place, and establish a local process that would determine if an event qualifies as community or cultural.

“Starting this spring, Ontario is giving communities more flexibility to safely and responsibly enjoy cultural and outdoor events,” Attorney General Doug Downey said in the statement.

“The ‘bring-your-own’ event permits will help save attendees money, lower overhead costs for event organizers and contribute to local economies.”

Event organizers in participating municipalities can apply for the permits through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on April 30.

Only people 19 years old and up will be allowed to bring alcohol to events holding a “bring-your-own” event permit.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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