BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Commissioners in Glynn County voted unanimously Thursday night to ban alcohol from East Beach for the weekend of the Florida-Georgia football game.
The ban will be in effect on Nov. 6 and 7. The beach itself will not be closed, unless ordered by Governor Brian Kemp.
THOUGHTS?? Glynn County commissioners ban booze on 'frat beach’ around #FloridaGeorgia game weekend to prevent furthering the spread of #COVID19 infections. What do you think about the alcohol ban? https://t.co/c2MACtQc3C pic.twitter.com/dMIWTTUJTj
— Brittany Muller (@BrittMullerNews) October 2, 2020
The Nov. 7 game typically draws crowds to what’s been dubbed “Frat Beach” on St. Simons Island.
“It’s one big giant party that’s all that there is to say about it," said Terri Taylor, a St. Simons Island resident. “It’s a drunken fest.”
“A lot of fun, lots of people, lots of kids, lots of adults, everybody having a good time -- rooting for Georgia, said Lane Peters, a Glynn County resident”
County Commissioner Pete Murphy says his message is: “Don’t come plan to come here to get intoxicated because the county does not want to enable or facilitate bad behavior." The county is not shutting down the beach because that would be up to Governor Brian Kemp.
Murphy told News4Jax he doesn’t want the county to be poster child of bad behavior of having enabled 6,000-10,000 students who won’t social distance. He added they have contacted local universities and colleges to discourage coming to party at Frat Beach. Murphy said with Gov. Kemp extending his emergency order, it allows local governments to do all they can to limit groups over 50, which is why they are taking this measure of banning alcohol.
Commissioners said they wanted to put a lid on rivalry because they’re concerned about COVID-19 infections, citing spikes in cases that the county saw after Memorial Day and Independence Day.
“I agree with the decision, but I do not think it’s enforceable,” said Taylor. “I mean all these kids what they have to do is use a solo cup and you can’t tell what’s in it I mean it’s not enforceable.”
Glynn County Police, Georgia State Patrol, and Department of Natural Resources officers will have patrols on the beach and plan to enforce the ban.