There is now a permanent ban on alcohol at Isla Vista beaches and parks. County staff told the Board of Supervisors on 11/3 that a permanent ordinance disallowing alcohol on the beach was important to the health and safety of the community, which resonated with the five supervisors just days after the always rowdy Isla Vista Halloween festivities. Their support of the ordinance was unanimous. “When you add the ocean into the mix and people drinking, it’s potentially a recipe for great tragedy,” said 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr, whose district encompasses the area, adding that the problem was with unsponsored events.
A special-event permit that would allow alcohol can still be acquired, though it must be sponsored by a specific group or person. After an alcohol-infused beach party with roughly 12,000 guests known as Floatopia littered the beach in April, plans for a follow-up party-Floatopia 2-quickly started to pop up on Facebook. County leaders intervened as the number of RSVPs approached 10,000, and came up with the emergency ordinance, in effect putting an end to the party. The six-month emergency ordinance has led to a decline in litter and alcohol usage on the beach, county staff said. The ban runs from the edge of Del Playa Drive east to the border of USCB. Alcohol will also be banned from several beach access points. Citations range from $100 to $500 for violations.