I want to thank Mike Ryan for his thoughtful commentary on the booze beach ban and how it may very well save lives (“Beach booze ban may actually save lives,” Sept. 25 Beacon, page 6). Two weeks ago, my husband and I were enjoying the beach at the end of Newport Avenue, a spot we had avoided for years because of the element that had virtually taken over, sitting on the seawall or on the sand, clearly boozed out of their minds, making rude comments and leering at the young women who walked by. We were so pleased with the change. Families with children and young people had replaced a seedy subculture. However, I happened to look up from my book to see a man sneaking drinks from an iced container. His bleary smile told me all I needed to know. Several sneaked drinks later, he jumped up, ran down to the water and dived in. Unfortunately, as Mr. Ryan pointed out, the booze had affected his ability to judge distance and he landed on his face in a few inches of water. I admit I felt bad for the man. I always feel bad when someone embarrasses themselves. His wife walked him back up to the towel and his booze. He continued to drink and I continued to read. Suddenly, I felt a thud. He was flopping like a beached seal between my husband and me saying, “Oh no, I fell, I’m so sorry.” Yeah, I still felt sorry for him. Then two lifeguards approached and asked him if he was drinking, asked to look in his bag and very politely told him that he was intoxicated and for his safety it would be better if he went home. His wife was sober and able to drive and they waited while she made multiple trips carrying stuff back to the car because her husband couldn’t walk. While the lifeguards patiently waited we spent a moment in conversation and they told us how much easier and pleasant their jobs had become, how many fewer arrests were being made and one said his wife, like us, had avoided this spot of beach for years and now visited with the kids. Yes, it was a minor alcohol related incident. But that’s the point; it was one drunken man and two kind lifeguards rather than a whole beach full of drinkers, and it was swiftly and peacefully resolved. What a difference.