Public drinking takes place in many cities around the world and Vancouver is no different. However, there are certain laws that must be followed to avoid fines and penalties.

Public drinking in Vancouver is allowed in areas in Granville Park, Southwest of Stanley Park, Vanier Park, Langara Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and many more.

This is because the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation re-launched the Alcohol in Parks Pilot program for Summer 2022, where you can legally consume alcohol in 22 parks in the city between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

The Alcohol in Parks Pilot Program

The Alcohol in Parks Pilot Program allows Vancouver residents and visitors to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in 22 of the city\’s parks and plazas. Many people have expressed enthusiasm for this program, which helps to create a safe and enjoyable environment in the parks.

The Park Board approved the draft by-law amendments required to support this program, which designates 22 areas of the city\’s most popular parks and plazas from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 

To ensure that each park and plaza is safe and well-maintained, the Park Board collaborates closely with the Park Rangers and Park Operations teams, the Vancouver Police Department, and the regional health authority.

Most parks and plazas participating in the pilot program let people drink anywhere in the park, except for common areas like playgrounds, sports fields, beaches, and many other places.

1. Granville Park

Granville Park is one of the approved parks to consume alcohol in Vancouver. The park borders some of Vancouver\’s best neighborhoods including Kitsilano and Shaughnessy.

The park is divided into two sections, each with its own set of attractions and recreational opportunities, making it an ideal destination for families. 

A sunken grassed court with cedar and hornbeam plants can be found on the park\’s west side, while tennis courts and shaded lounging areas can be found on the park\’s east side.

Please keep in mind that Granville Park only has one public restroom, which is a little far from the designated drinking area. The park also has no caretakers, so remember to pick up after yourself and properly dispose of your waste.

Check out the image below to see where you can drink in Granville Park:

2. Stanley Park (Southwest)

Stanley Park is Vancouver\’s largest and most well-known park, spanning the northwestern half of Vancouver\’s Downtown area.

The park is regarded as the city\’s crown jewel, with miles of well-kept walkways, jogging and cycling paths, and dirt trails. It also has beautiful beaches and a variety of kids\’ activities such as a water park, pool, miniature railway, and many others.

This is why the designated drinking area is located in the southwest section of the park so that it\’s not in close proximity to the park\’s attractions.  See the image below to find out where you can drink in Stanley Park:

3. Vanier Park

Vanier Park is located in the Kitsilano neighborhood and it offers unobstructed views of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. 

This park is home to some of the city\’s famous attractions such as the Museum of Vancouver and the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Vanier Park is located on the outskirts of English Bay and features peaceful ponds, open spaces, and wide paths for people to walk, jog, and run on.

There\’s also a BMX bike park in the park\’s southern area, which opened in August 2010 that features dirt ramps, jumps, and gaps.

The park has two designated areas for alcohol consumption, both of which are conveniently close to public washrooms. 

4. Langara Park

Langara Park is located in the heart of Vancouver and is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. 

The park is well-maintained and offers a variety of amenities, including a playground, picnic tables, and washrooms. What makes Langara Park unique is that it is one of the few parks in Vancouver where you can legally drink alcohol.

You\’re permitted to consume alcohol in almost all areas of the park but do so responsibly so as to not disturb other visitors.

5. Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park sits atop a hill in downtown Vancouver. The views from here are stunning, especially of the city skyline. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the mountains.

There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables, so you can easily find a spot to sit and enjoy your drinks. And there\’s no need to worry about being too far from the action – Queen Elizabeth Park is just a short walk from all the shops and restaurants on Main Street.

In a unanimous vote by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Queen Elizabeth Park has been included as one of the public parks where you can legally consume alcohol.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

6. Collingwood Park

Collingwood Park is a popular community park that is always bustling with activity. The park has green fields that are ideal for relaxing or playing, making it an ideal hangout for families and friends. 

The park also features a range of recreational amenities, such as a children\’s play area, a skate park, basketball courts, and picnic areas.

The park is also close to the Joyce–Collingwood Skytrain station so we recommend taking public transit as there\’s no free parking in the area.

The designated drinking area at Collingwood Park is quite spacious, and there have been recent significant improvements to the park, such as the addition of washrooms, paths, seating, and many more.

The exact locations of the park\’s designated drinking areas are shown in the image below:

7. David Lam Park

David Lam Park is a large open space near downtown that\’s well-known for its complex mix of active and leisurely recreational areas, all with views of False Creek and Yaletown. 

The park has numerous picnic tables and playgrounds, separate cycling and walking lanes, and convenient pay parking around the area. The park also has many public amenities like washrooms, drinking fountains, and many more.

David Lam Park is an urban oasis where the famous sea wall passes, and there are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops around if you feel like getting a bite or having a cup of joe. 

David Lam Park is a popular place for both locals and tourists. It has a lot of open space, paths for walking and biking, and beautiful views of False Creek and Yaletown.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

8. Fraser River Park

Fraser River Park, the city\’s only riverside greenway, is one of the most peaceful and inspiring places in Vancouver. 

The park has beautiful views of the Fraser River and a nice mix of natural and man-made features. On any given day, one can find locals and visitors alike strolling the pathways and enjoying the tranquility of the park.

The park is one of the public parks where it is legal to drink alcohol. It stands out because it is a great place to have a barbecue with friends and family because there are many picnic tables and benches.

Additionally, the park boasts an array of crab apple and Nootka rose trees lining the pathways of the park that were planted by farmers to avoid flooding in the area.

Check out the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

9. Harbour Green Park

Harbour Green Park is the best continuous waterfront park in the downtown Vancouver that stretches along Coal Harbour. It offers unobstructed views of the North Shore mountains and Burrard Inlet.

The park features numerous mighty trees and it\’s a great walk from Canada Place to Stanley Park. It\’s also an added bonus that you can watch ships go in and out of the Vancouver Cruise Terminal.

The designated drinking areas in the park are quite spacious. Although there\’s only one public restroom, located in the middle of the park, so keep that in mind when you pick a drinking spot.

The following photograph shows the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

10. John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park

John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park is a 27-hectare park between East 14th and East 19th Avenue. 

The park has a wide range of active and passive recreation opportunities, such as jogging, baseball, basketball, and many more. The park also offers nature trails, an off-leash area for dogs, and access to Trout Lake, where people can fish.

It also has an abundance of wildlife habitat around the lake, which is highlighted by glowing lights during the annual lantern festival. The park is also home to a variety of fauna, including ducks, geese, beavers, and otters.

For a map of the park\’s designated drinking areas, see below.

11. Kitsilano Beach Park / Hadden Park

Kitsilano Beach Park / Hadden Park is home to the Vancouver Maritime Museum and is brimming with fascinating historical artifacts, with historic vessels frequently docking in the harbor. 

It also has an off-leash dog area, making it the perfect place to spend a day with your canine.

This lovely park has lots of comfortable green spaces, oceanfront walkways, and easy strolling paths with city and mountain views. 

There are plenty of benches and picnic tables, making it easy to sit down and enjoy the picturesque views while taking in the sights of old-time vessels docked in the harbor.

It\’s also a convenient feature that there are dedicated public restrooms in the three designated areas where you can consume alcohol. In addition, you can also visit Granville Island from here as there\’s a dedicated pathway that leads to it.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

12. Locarno Beach Park

Locarno Beach Park is a quaint area located along the Stanley Park Seawall. The restriction on amplified sounds keeps the park mostly free of loud music, creating a peaceful atmosphere that attracts many visitors.

Locarno Beach Park also has various amenities, including picnic tables, benches, an off-leash area for dogs, and a concession stand.

The park also has limited free parking and four public restrooms. Although the designated drinking areas in the park are quite limited, it\’s quite a famous drinking spot for those who want to enjoy a beer in a peaceful setting.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

13. Maple Grove Park

Maple Grove Park is located in beautiful Cowichan Bay, across from the grass tennis courts. The park has old-growth stumps scattered around the area to remind everyone of the historic giant maple trees that once covered the surrounding areas.

The park also offers a wide range of activities for all ages, such as playgrounds, swings, baseball, and many more. 

You may also enjoy the outdoor pool during the warmer months and the picnic areas located in the shade of cedars, oaks, and maples.

Additionally, the park also has free residential parking and public wifi. For those looking for a little peace and quiet, Maple Grove Park is an excellent spot for picnics, bird watching, or just strolling around the paths.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

14. Memorial South Park

Memorial South Park is a large park with tree-lined pathways that lead to the war memorial that gives the park its name. This park\’s distinct feature is the many sports areas it offers such as baseball diamonds, hockey fields, running tracks, and many more.

Because of this, many sports competitions hosted by schools and companies are held here, from school soccer to running competitions. 

Aside from that, there\’s a duck pond next to the picnic areas where there are lots of ducks and geese. The park also has beautiful gardens, which provide a peaceful and natural environment for visitors.

There are many places that are designated for drinking situated next to the park\’s sporting areas. Keep in mind that it’s not permitted to drink in the sports facilities; therefore, stay in the designated area.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

15. Memorial West Park

Memorial West Park is located at 1950 Marine Drive, directly across from the Memorial Library. This small park is a quiet place to hang out close to the center of the city. It has a lot of playing fields and courts, green areas, and wooded areas.

The park\’s designated drinking areas are a bit small because the park isn\’t as large as South Park, but you\’ll enjoy hanging out here as you wander the park\’s trails that connect to the sports areas and woodlands.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking area in the park:

16. New Brighton Park

New Brighton Park is a waterfront park with scenic views of the Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. The park is bordered by industrial facilities, the Hastings Racecourse, and the Port of Vancouver.

This park is popular due to its view of the grain elevators at Cascadia Terminals. It also has plenty of open green space, walking and cycling paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, and other recreational amenities.

As for the parks\’ designated drinking areas, visitors will be glad to know that most of these areas are placed in front of the ocean, so you can enjoy your drink while taking in magnificent ocean views.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

17. Pandora Park

Pandora Park is located in East Vancouver and it\’s well-known for its large and fully-fenced off-leash dog park. This well-utilized green space is in the middle of an urban neighborhood so expect to see a lot of families.

The Vancouver Park Board has recently made significant improvements to the park by upgrading tennis courts, re-designing the park\’s landscapes, and adding a new dog off-leash area.

The park has been designated as one of the locations in Vancouver where it\’s legal to consume alcoholic beverages, and it provides a large open-area space for doing so.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

18. Quilchena Park

Quilchena Park is situated in the middle of the Kerrisdale border and is referred to as \”Alma\” park by Vancouverites. The park\’s majestic trees tower over the sloping lawns that provide shade for the seating areas, making it an ideal spot for picnics.

The park also provides lots of trails for joggers, walkers, and runners alike, with large arbutus trees scattered in groves among the lawn throughout. 

These trees, in turn, offer a home to many different species of birds and animals, creating a serene atmosphere that makes it the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Most residents enjoy drinking beer and wine in this area as the park has plenty of benches and tables to rest their drinks while they sit and relax in the sun.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

19. Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park is located south of South East Marine Drive along the Fraser River between Burnaby and Vancouver. This serene park is a lovely place to walk, night or day, as it\’s safe and it has fantastic views of the river.

It also has well-maintained picnic tables and public washrooms, which is why it\’s one of the best places where you can legally consume alcohol with nice sunset views and an abundance of nature. 

You can also reserve their spacious tent area, but do note that it has limited availability, so expect that you\’ll need to book way ahead.

The majority of the Riverfront Park\’s designated drinking areas are situated in the middle of the park\’s lush green open spaces, where public restrooms are also located.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

20. Rupert Park

Rupert Park provides open views and plenty of space for visitors to walk or play in one of their sports facilities. The highlight of the park is the tree-lined pathways that lead to the ponds and rolling greens of the pitch-and-putt golf course.

Even though it\’s kind of a bummer that their parking lot is far from the sports fields, make sure you bring everything you need or you\’ll have to walk a long way back to your car.

The designated drinking area in the park is away from the common areas. It\’s also a bit far from the public restrooms, but it\’s good that there\’s enough room for a lot of people to drink there.

View the image that follows to learn more about the precise locations of the park\’s designated drinking areas:

21. Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is a small park that features serene views of English Bay. The park is easily accessible from Point Grey Road, and its main attraction is its extensive bike lane trails.

Despite being a small park, the area provides amazing views in all the seasons, and it has well-placed benches along the edge and a pathway down to the beach. Its abundance of trees makes it a great spot for picnics and photography.

The best part about Volunteer Park is that the whole park area is a designated drinking area due to its small size. Take a look at the image below!

22. Robson Park

Robson Park connects a busy street to a vibrant neighborhood. It has gorgeous gardens where you can relax and have a picnic, as well as expansive common areas for a variety of sports.

This park is adjacent to Kingsway but retains a sense of sanctuary. It features a flat grass field for soccer or frisbee, large trees with benches and tables scattered throughout the playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, and many others.

The designated drinking areas of Robson Park are situated in the middle of the park, surrounding the sports fields. Additionally, convenient paid parking is available adjacent to the park.

See the image below to see the exact designated drinking areas in the park:

Plazas in Vancouver Where You Can Drink Alcohol

The Drinking in Public Plazas Program was made by the City of Vancouver to provide people with flexible socializing options to enjoy the city\’s public spaces. 

The goal of the program is to also allow residents to drink responsibly outdoors and support local alcohol businesses at designated plazas.

In total, there are six public plazas where you can legally consume alcohol in the city from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Let\’s take a look at each one!

1. Cambie St and 17th Ave

Cambie St and 17th Ave is an easy-to-spot plaza. It\’s beside Julie\’s Hair Design and Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe. Once you spot the W 17th Ave stoplight, the plaza is just on your right.

2. Granville St and 13th Ave

Granville St and 13th Ave is just beside Williams-Sonoma and TNA. You\’ll recognize this plaza right away due to the unique wall mural beside it. The plaza also has limited street parking.

3. Granville St and 14th Ave

Granville St and 14th Ave is located just beside Meinhardt Fine Food and the Bin 4 Burger Lounge. The plaza also has an eye-catching black and yellow striped wall mural in front of it.

4. Lot 19, 855 West Hastings St

Just across the Waterfront Centre and a few steps from the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel is Lot 19, 855 West Hastings Street. This plaza is a stone\’s throw from the Lion\’s Pub and has metered parking right next to it.

5. Main St and 21st Ave

Main St and 21st Ave is a quaint plaza surrounded by tall and thin trees. It\’s in the middle of one of Vancouver\’s most vibrant cafes, Coco et Olive and Liberty Bakery +Cafe.

6. Maple St and 4th Ave

Maple St and 4th Ave is right beside Patagonia and the Indian Oven. This intersection of Maple St and 4th Ave is popular for its diverse food options such as Mexican restaurants, Italian pizzerias, and vegan options. 

Can you drink on the beach in Vancouver?

According to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, drinking alcohol on Vancouver beaches is not allowed as they have expressed in their statement that alcohol and the ocean don\’t mix well.

This is to keep the public safe from dangerous ocean conditions and to reduce disruptive behavior on Vancouver\’s beaches. While you can sneak a drink or two, keep in mind that if you get caught, you will be fined at least CAD 230.

As an alternative, Vancouver beaches have numerous bars and pubs surrounding the area, so it’s best to drink there if you want to chug a beer or two.

FAQs about Public Drinking in Vancouver

---

So there you have it. We hope this article informed you about where you can legally have a drink in public in the city without having to worry about getting in trouble with the law. 

For a complete list of designated parks where you can consume alcohol, check out the City of Vancouver’s website.

Here are a few related articles that you may find helpful:

• Best Alcohol Delivery Services in Vancouver
• Top Pubs in Vancouver
• Best Bars in Vancouver