The Happy Camper: Ontario Parks Are Now “Party Parks” With the Announcement of Alcohol Allowed Almost Everywhere
The announcement that Doug Ford’s government is allowing alcohol outside individual campsites in Ontario Provincial Parks has made a lot of us unhappy campers—myself included. This is not a smart idea! It’s completely misaligned with the whole point of why we get outdoors.
On April 15th, Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks announced: “Just in time for summer, the Ontario government is making it easier for people to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends by allowing adults to responsibly consume their favourite alcoholic beverages throughout provincial parks. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, this change means alcohol will no longer be restricted to individual campsites, making it easier for people to relax and spend time with family and friends while supporting a stronger tourism industry that creates jobs and drives economic growth across the province.”
At first glance, wandering the park with a spiked beverage doesn’t seem like a big deal. After all, most campers will admit they’ve done this anyways, concealing it in their sippy cup. A Yeti full of beer on the beach or a flask of Jack in your day pack during a nature hike seems to be the norm for some campers. If caught by a park warden, there was a small fine. But not many got caught. So why just make it legal now?
This government announcement goes well beyond “intended to improve the overall park experience and support local tourism, while continuing to prioritize safety. Ontario Parks are a key part of what makes our province a travel destination and we are supporting experiences that attract more visitors, strengthen communities and grow the economy.” Seriously! Read between the lines, campers.
First of all, we all don’t do it. A lot of campers come to provincial parks to chill with nature, listen to the birds and soak in the natural surroundings. Yes, they may enjoy a local craft beer or a nice Pinot Noir around the campfire at their campsite each night, but they are certainly not there to get smashed drunk and cause a menace to other campers and cause anxiety to the wildlife.
But this goes beyond the risk of inebriated bothersome campers, more litter at the beach and on hiking trails, more rescues and possibly even more drownings. This free-for-all alcohol in parks announcement claims it will “improve the overall park experience and support local tourism, while continuing to prioritize safety.” It’s anthropocentric. Wilderness philosophers like Thoreau, Leopold, Singer and Carson all warned us of this damaging human trait.
Just read the press release and think about the reasoning made by the government—led by the same premier who tried to develop on the provinces Green Belt and get rid of the Endangered Species Act. Having a beer on a park beach is prioritized, not the protection of wild scenic areas.
“Ontario Parks are a key part of what makes our province a travel destination and we are supporting experiences that attract more visitors, strengthen communities and grow the economy.”
Let that sink in. Have you tried to get a reservation to camp in an Ontario Park lately? They’re full. Do they really need this new relaxation on alcohol restrictions to bring in more business? They’re making party parks, in my opinion, not “making it easier for people to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends.” They want to be voted back in power. It’s pretty obvious.
The press release says that new rules apply “in most areas of provincial parks that are open and staffed for the 2026 season, such as picnic areas, beaches and other day use areas across the park. Park users will not receive tickets or fines for responsibly consuming alcohol in permitted areas outside of individual campsites.”
Take note that at the same time Algonquin just announced they are closing three of the busiest park offices to save money. Next, I bet they’ll be cutting staff. Be honest, when is the last time a park warden gave you a visit to your campsite to ask you to keep the noise down? And now they are allowing campers to wander off their campsite with booze.
Just to be clear, I love my outdoor cocktail like the most of you—maybe even more so. But that’s not the point here. Our provincial parks were never created for “building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy.” They were made to protect valuable wild areas for us to enjoy, to soak in the solace, and remind us why we should continue to protect such precious natural places.
To sum it up, to me there is a big difference from some camper taking a quick swig from their sippy cup filled with vodka and cranberry juice while watching the sunset, and hoping a park warden doesn’t walk by and catch them, to a government agency inviting a group of yahoos to our parks with a keg of lager and with no staff to enforce rules and behaviour. I’m not okay to share my little bit of wilderness with a bunch of boozers who will take control over the campground like it’s some type of hypocritical scene of privileged campers destroying why I went to camp out in nature in the first place.
At the end of the day, if Ontario Park’s campgrounds become a place to drink and party all night long, then I will never camp at any of them ever again…and god bless the poor wardens who have to deal with this catastrophe.
Here’s what people are saying. What are your thoughts? Comment below!
If Ontario Park’s campgrounds become a place to drink and party all night long, then I also……will never camp at any of them ever again!
sometime it was bad enough without the booze
I’ve camped and canoed throughout Ontario and the North for over 60 years, both personally and professionally as a geologist/geophysicist. 30 years ago I decided to take my 12 year old son for an overnight. Sadly the lovely site was next to two couples with a pickup and a sound system. The ‘bros’ spent the night drinking and boasting, (always hushing when the rangers drove past). It was the first, and the sadly the last, time my son wanted to go camping. More alcohol in the parks is a supremely stupid idea.
I enjoy a beverage or two by the fire at the end of the night but its not the reason I camp. A small concealed bevy isnt an issue but an opening for a potential unleashed free for all is. The day use campers can get rowdy enough as it is, add alcohol into that and it can get messy or downright dangerous. Life post lockdowns have a very different version of humanity and decency if I’m being honest. Our family of 5 love the peacefulness of the PP’s. This could honestly make us decide to stop. If we want to hear rowdy neighbors rather than nature we can just stay home in the city. ~MV
Wow, this is the most backwards decision I have ever heard of. Good work Ford on another disastrous judgment call, let’s destroy all parks.
Buck A Beer, convenience store booze, and public drinking in parks are trademark Doug. Weakling attempts to appeal to his populist base without comprehending need, impact, relevance, or consequences. Just like his Gravy Plane!