Jersey Shore town tightens bans alcohol on beach, boardwalk (2024)

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Jersey Shore town tightens bans alcohol on beach, boardwalk? ›

Not long after Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, alcohol of all kinds, opened or unopened, will be banned in Wildwood, New Jersey. Officials in New Jersey are banning the possession of alcohol on a popular beach and boardwalk after city commissioners unanimously passed the “stricter” ordinance.

WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) -- With Memorial Day Weekend almost here, a trip to this Jersey Shore town could have consequences. Wildwood banned alcohol on its beach and boardwalk during a Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday night.

Designated restaurants or permitted events on the beach and boardwalk are the only exceptions. “Alcohol of any kind has always been prohibited on the beach and boardwalk. In fact, there is already a sign at every street entrance to the beach.

Adding to Ocean City's family image is the fact that it's a “dry” town, meaning there is no alcohol of any kind sold within its borders.

WILDWOOD, NJ – City of Wildwood Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance banning the possession of alcohol on the beach and boardwalk.

Feel free to bring coolers and food, but alcohol is not permitted on Cape May beaches.

New ordinance in Wildwood now prohibits alcohol on the beach and boardwalk. Designated bars and restaurants are exempt from the ordinance. One ordinance prohibits the consumption, display or possession of alcohol on the beach and boardwalk. This includes all containers open or closed.

Possession or consumption of alcohol on the beach or boardwalk will be considered a breach of peace and violators face fines of up to $2,000. “I've been getting calls from people saying, 'now we can't drink on the beach? ' and I said, 'it's always been that way,'” Byron said. “We just added a little more teeth.

Introduced during a Board of Commissioners meeting in Wildwood in early May, the new ordinance “not only prohibits the drinking and/or open display of alcohol, but also says the mere existence of any kind of alcohol is prohibited,” Mayor Pete Byron said in a news release on Thursday.

Drinking alcohol on the beach or in public is strictly prohibited. Do not feed the gulls or any other wildlife. Any type of fire or barbecue is prohibited at all times year-round. Never walk on the dunes.

Why is there no alcohol in Ocean City, NJ? ›

As a result of its religious origins, the sale or public drinking of alcoholic beverages in Ocean City was prohibited. In 1881, the Ocean City Association passed a set of blue laws, which were designed to enforce religious standards. The town banned the manufacturing or sale of alcohol in 1909.

Ventnor is not a dry Jersey Shore town like Ocean City — it has plenty of liquor stores, but no bars or restaurants that sell alcohol. The newly installed city commissioners heard from voters who told them they wanted the downbeach town to offer non-package liquor licenses.

Jersey Shore's Ronnie Ortiz-Magro has also joined Sorrentino in sobriety. After struggling with depression, Ronnie sought treatment for his mental health and alcoholism. The star has discussed his mental health struggles, substance abuse issues, and how he realized it was time to get help for both.

Smoking is Prohibited on the entire Beach and Boardwalk

The penalty for violation of this section shall not exceed $200.00. Disposing of a cigarette butt on the beach, dune, boardwalk or street constitutes littering, and is subject to a separate fine of $100 and two days of community service.

No motor vehicle issued a permit or otherwise permitted access to or to operate on the beaches of Wildwood Crest shall be permitted to be utilized for changing of clothes, sleeping or eating.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

When a group of Methodists founded the island in the late 19th century, they wanted to turn Ocean City into a Christian resort, thus deeming it a "dry town." Alcohol production and sales have been outlawed in Ocean City since 1909, a decade before Prohibition was ushered in nationwide on Jan. 17, 1920.

Jersey Shore Local Open Container Rules

Nearly every New Jersey beach makes it illegal to bring open containers – or any alcohol – to the beach.

Per the city of Gulf Shores decree, it's unlawful for any person to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage on the sand of any portion of the beach east of the eastern boundary of the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, west of the western boundary of Gulf State Park and seaward of the line of sand stabilization fencing ...

No person shall bring or consume any beer, wine, whiskey or any other intoxicating liquor on the public beachfront or in the adjacent waters or on the boardwalk and/or promenade, except as permitted by §§ 181-15 and 247-4. N. No person shall take or haul any beach sand or soil from the beachfront.