‘Give us a break’: Ford slams Hamilton mayor, city council for issuing public drinking tickets
If it's legal to smoke a doobie" in city streets, what gives with a cold beer on a picnic bench - during a health crisis, no less?
That's what Premier Doug Ford echoed at a news briefing Friday as he slammed Hamilton's track record amid the pandemic of issuing hundreds of public drinking-related tickets.
They're making it legal to smoke a joint, a doobie, a reefer - and I wouldn't want my kids walking by people smoking marijuana - but if a couple guys are sitting there, quietly on a picnic bench having a cold beer, who cares?" Ford said. I can't agree with giving someone a ticket during COVID. They're stuck in an apartment, they want to be responsible, they stick to themselves, they're quiet, and they want to have a cold beer ... Give us a break. Just a little bit of a break."
Hamilton police handed out 369 public drinking-related tickets between March 12 and July 31 this year. The charges relate to violations of Section 31 (2) of the Liquor License Act, which include having liquor in an open container or consuming it anywhere other than a licensed premises, home or private location. They also come with a $100 fine.
While the onus of issuing tickets falls on police, Ford took issue with Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and city council.
I'm not blaming police. I'm blaming city council, the mayor. Give these guys a break. Man, they're your constituents," Ford said. They're cooped up in an apartment, sometimes for months, and where are they going to go? Just stick in their apartment and have a beer? Let them go to the park. Have a little flexibility, mayor. Come on. Give them a break."
Ford's comments are in line with the recommendations of some public health experts, who say making it legal for people to drink in parks could limit the spread of COVID-19.
It's not going to make it a zero-transmission (scenario), but it's going to make it a much safer event than doing it indoors with a bunch of people," said Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at McMaster University.
Meanwhile, a city spokesperson deflected the blame of public drinking-related tickets back to the province. To allow changes to the Liquor License Act would require the province allowing municipalities to update their public drinking By-Laws," the city said in a statement. This is not something we are currently exploring."
With files from Katrina Clarke
Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com