For two weekends in July, the controversial alcohol ban will be lifted at Fiesta Island for the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club’s (OMBAC) 55th annual world championship Over-the-Line (OTL) tournament.
The same rules would apply before the ban went into effect Jan. 14: No glass bottles and no alcohol between 8 p.m. and noon. The ban will still be in effect at Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and rest of Mission Bay Park.
OMBAC was able to lift the ban at Fiesta Island because language in the ban ordinance that allows special event permit holders have alcohol was not changed when it was rewritten to ban alcohol at the beach.
Because OMBAC was approved for a special event permit, the group’s 55-year old summer tradition will continue without being under the the beach alcohol ban for the weekends of July 12-13 and July 19-20.
The permit will allow people to bring and consume alcohol in all playing areas and the paid parking lots during the days of the tournament but would limit alcohol consumption in some areas, said OMBAC spokesman Duke Marston.
“We’ve always had a roped off beer garden and our refreshment areas and they won’t be any different,” Marston said. “We’re not planning any additional [beverage] facilities.”
Though OMBAC applied for the permit through the special events permit process, some community members who have opposed the trial beach alcohol ban don’t like that some will get to drink during the event while the general public isn’t allowed to drink on the beach or at the bays for the rest of the year.
Alcohol will be allowed in a larger area than usually allowed by the city’s permit, and it is open to public, which according to the city permit process for allowing alcohol, isn’t the norm.
“It’s an extreme double standard and it’s unfortunate because somebody is playing politics with policy. Instead of coming up with a good policy they’re just playing politics with it.” Patrick Finucane, a Pacific Beach Town Council member said.
Up until late last month, language on the OMBAC website said, “With the help of Councilman Faulconer’s office, the ‘Alcohol Ban’ will not apply to the areas of Fiesta Island used for playing [and] parking.”
Language on the website has since changed to clarify the possibly misleading statement.
District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer could not comment on the website’s language but said all events must go through the special events permit process.
He added that the OTL is an example of well-run event.
“[OTL] is an event that has worked and an event that will continue to work,” Faulconer said. “We have world class special events in Mission Bay and those are continuing.”
The tournament is a huge fundraiser OMBAC’s for year-round programs including wheelchair and adaptive sports program and a junior OTL competition for kids.
OTL joins a list of special events occurring throughout the city, which the trial alcohol ban was never intended to affect, according to a statement signed by Council President Scott Peters, Councilwoman Donna Frye and Faulconer. The events occur in their districts.
The February memo states that the special events office has been effective at preventing irresponsible drinking and maintaining public safety at the events.
Councilwoman Donna Frye said many city residents look forward to the city’s special events held throughout the year.
“The idea was that we not shut down events that have been held for a very long time in the city of San Diego and that we take those special events into account. I think it was a reasonable request,” Frye said.
She added that anybody can apply for a special event permit.
(The complete list of more than 60 events including the Mission Bay Parade of Lights, and the Paddle Out and Beach Cleanup for Plastic Free Oceans can be found at www.BeachandBayPress.com.
The special events shouldn’t be affected by the alcohol ban so long as they go through the city’s permit process, which includes satisfying California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control standards for controlling alcohol consumption, according to city officials.
For more information on the OMBAC and OTL visit www.ombac.org.