This past long weekend, Banff National Park imposed a strict liquor ban across the park. 

The result: no noise complaints. 

Campers were happy, the overall experience was pleasant and a good news story ensued.

In Jasper National Park, only one campground – Snaring Campground - was subject to the same liquour ban. As a result, Park Wardens were left chasing delinquent campers around Whistlers Camground until the wee hours of the morning, as they hopped from campsite to campsite hunting obnoxiously loud ‘guests’. 

Of course, having endured a snowy morning and a sleepless night, there weren’t many happy campers Sunday morning at the Whistlers Campground.

While there are guffaws that surround liquor bans in a National Park, time and time again, they are proven to work. They give wardens an effective tool to remove problem campers and provide a more enjoyable camping experience for neighbouring sites.

In this week’s Fitzhugh, warden Jim Mamalis notes drugs and alcohol are at the root of 100 per cent of his calls. While there may be a touch of hyperbole there, he’s not far off. Ticketing drunks for booze and noise complaints is a massive stretch on the limited resources in the Warden’s service and generally provides headaches for the officers. 

This is nothing new. Most court appearances are rooted in alcohol-fuelled events. Drugs, booze and long weekends shock no one. 

Campers had one chance in JNP to prove this summer they could handle their liquor while camping, and they failed. It would come as no surprise if the Park implemented a full liquor ban for the remaining long weekends this summer. Jasper National Park would be well within its rights to do so after handling a dozen incidents on Saturday night, and we’re sure there will be many visitors who will welcome the ban. We at the Fitzhugh grow weary of reporting such cases.

There are arguments against the liquor ban. It could force those looking to drink and party to difficult to reach portions of the park, away from the warden’s prying eyes. This is potentially dangerous given the fire risk in the park, not to mention potential animal attractant issues. If wardens must spend so much time in campgrounds, it opens up the rest of the park to many other problems.

Parks Canada has invested heavily in providing a family friendly visitor experience accessible for all Canadians. However, when rowdy campers cause problems, this experience is compromised. Does Jasper want to lose the family camping market and jeopardize their goal of attracting an extra 200,000 visitors this year?

The weather did a great job challenging campers this weekend. There is no need to further embitter them.