CITY HALL – Liquor in Riverside Park pilot to continue for another season

The City will continue a pilot program allowing park visitors to bring and consume their own liquor in a designated area of Riverside Park this spring and summer. The Responsible Liquor Consumption Pilot Program runs daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. between now and Oct. 1, 2026.

The program is modelled after successful programs in other Canadian municipalities. The goal is to assess the impacts of permitting responsible liquor consumption in designated public spaces.

“The pilot aims to allow moderate, social use of liquor within a shared community space, supporting social connection and the use of green spaces,” said Andrew Smeaton, the City’s business operations and special event supervisor. “It’s about community-based regulation rather than strict prohibition.”

People aged 19 and older are permitted to bring and consume their own liquor within a clearly marked area around the Rotary Bandshell in Riverside Park. Public intoxication is prohibited. Community Service Officers are authorized to direct people to dispose of liquor if they aren’t complying with the rules. Anyone who violates the bylaw is subject to a penalty of $100 for a first offence and $200 for each subsequent offence.

Major events still require a special event permit and enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of large crowds. In these cases, liquor consumption is regulated under a private liquor licence for special events and contained within a beer garden where liquor is sold.

Notable 2026 community events where the pilot program will not be in effect include:

June 12 – Riverside Park Community Event showing the FIFA World Cup™ 2026
June 18 – Canada Celebrates the FIFA World Cup™ 2026
June 24 – Riverside Park Community Event showing the FIFA World Cup™ 2026
July 1 – Annual Canada Day Event
July 19 – Riverside Park Community Event showing the FIFA World Cup™ 2026
July 22 – Music in the Park Midsummer Music Jam presented by BCLC
July 24–26 – Kamloops International Buskers Festival
August 7–9 – Kamloops Sports Council Ribfest

The City says feedback from the 2025 pilot program showed that public opinion shifted over time. Early in the pilot program, feedback was almost evenly split between supporters and opponents. As adoption and awareness increased, there were significantly more supporters than opponents.

“This change suggests that the community became more comfortable with the program, and its perceived benefits were increasingly recognized,” said Smeaton. “That said, we are continuing the pilot program so we can gather more data, collect public input, and gain insight into any enforcement challenges or unintended consequences.”

Residents and park visitors can provide feedback on the pilot program by taking a survey at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/ResponsibleLiquorConsumption.

The City will also gather feedback from enforcement personnel, community partners, and event organizers. The feedback will be shared as part of a pilot program summary presented to Council in winter 2026.

For more information visit Kamloops.ca/ResponsibleLiquor