Perth bring your own alcohol decision driven by safety, staffing and liability concerns
PERTH — Residents and visitors to the Town of Perth will not be allowed to bring their own alcohol to outdoor events this summer, despite changes to provincial legislation.
The decision comes as Ontario prepares to roll out changes under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 that would permit “bring your own alcohol” (BYOB) at certain outdoor public events starting April 30, 2026. While the province is opening the door, municipalities must choose whether to participate, and Perth has decided not to after committee backed a staff recommendation to opt out of the new provincial rules.
“I’m puzzled by this whole concept, and I think we have an adequate system in place as it is. Maybe another council down the road will want to have that conversation, but I wouldn’t support it anyway,” said Coun. David Bird, retired police officer.
Town staff say the move is largely about safety, staffing and keeping events manageable.
Right now, Perth operates under a Municipal Alcohol Policy that tightly controls how alcohol is served at events. Typically, alcohol must be sold and distributed by licensed vendors, with trained staff overseeing consumption. Allowing people to bring their own drinks would remove that centralized control, making it harder to monitor how much people are drinking and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
Staff also raised concerns about limited resources. The town does not have dedicated enforcement officers for alcohol compliance and is already operating near capacity when it comes to managing events. Introducing BYOB would mean more oversight, coordination and possibly on-site monitoring, something officials say they are not equipped to handle.
Liability was another key issue. With attendees bringing their own alcohol, it becomes more difficult to track consumption and manage risks such as intoxication, injuries or impaired driving. The report notes that this could increase the town’s exposure to legal and safety concerns.
There are also potential impacts on existing events. Many festivals and community gatherings currently rely on licensed alcohol sales as part of their operations. Allowing BYOB could disrupt those models and create inconsistencies across events.
Despite the province’s push for more flexibility, Perth is taking a cautious approach. Staff say they will continue to watch how the new rules play out in other municipalities before reconsidering.
Council members were in agreement with staff’s assessment but questioned the need to pass a policy to address something that is not a law.
“It is such a public issue, and we knew that we would get questions about it and we wanted to also make sure that we brought it to council’s attention so that when we’re asked about can this be an option, we could provide you with all the information so you could make an informed decision,” said Cathy McNally, director of community services.
For now, the message is clear. If you’re heading to a festival or outdoor event in Perth this summer, you’ll still need to leave your own alcoholic drinks at home.
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