Reader Poll: Should Folly Beach ban alcohol?
Photo provided by Bubber Hutto: Should Folly Beach ban alcohol on the beach to combat trash?
Recently, a large group of visitors to Folly Beach left a present for residents after the Fourth of July holiday: a huge amount of trash. It is inevitable that many people will visit the beach and that more trash will be created as a result. However, many people left their trash on the beach itself which included coolers, beer cans, boxes and bottles with little regard for what would happen when they left. Fortunately, many concerned volunteers cleaned up the mess. However, it has the City government wondering whether or not alcohol should be banned on the beach in order to combat similar situations. Check out this survey to express your opinion on the matter.
I think there should be a larger fine for leaving trash on the beach. Beach goers and the beach police can should an eye out for those leaving the beach without taking all of there trash. If there is a fine already in place, it should be higher and enforced more than it is now. It also may help to have more than one trash can at the beach walkways. If there are as many people visiting Folly as reported, then there needs to be more room for trash. The locals shouldn’t be punished for what the “Day Trippers” leave behind. Those of us that are on the beach often would never pollute it that way. In my opinion, those who disrespect the beach like that should just stay away all together. I wish there was a fine for being a jerk!
Yeah! Keep the trash off Folly! This comes way too late. You got to clamp down on the stupid trashy folks that are littering and destroying Folly Beach each weekend. I’ve seen a gradual deterioration of this low life for the past several years. It’s got to be ended now! It’s way past the cute and funny stage, it’s at the stinking fall down stage of utter disbelief that humans can act in this manner. I can only laugh at the news stories of the drunks that buy beer at Bert’s Store affecting the economy on Folly. Day trippers can have Morris Island all to themselves, leave Folly Beach to the peaceful families, which spend the real tourism dollars. Wake up Folly – you are not the sleepy beach city of yesterday. Other popular Island resort cities charge a hearty toll to even enter their communities.
i agree banning alcohal is not the answer. we nee dstricter littering laws and most importantly better inforement of these laws. the trash left on the beach 4th of july weekend was unbelieveable. sad indeed, the lack of respect for the beach and ocean should not be tolerated for the sake of revenue from tourists. we need more patrols actually making a presence and letting people know the littering will not be tolerated without heavy fines. no exceptions.
I know some of the locals cause a lot of the trash and drinking problems also. I’m born and raised here & I think it sucks when you have to move so your kids don’t have to hear some of the locals…younger and older groups talk like white trash because they can’t handle themselves when drinking. When you say something to them…nicely…of course, they want to act cute in front of their friends instead of acting like they have some home training, respect, and class. In being so, with my hot head, to avoid me stooping to their level, I move if it doesn’t stop. I think the beach cops need to hang out more especially behind the Holiday Inn & start fining…isn’t that what they get paid to do? It sucks adults have to act like this!
I agree that trash is an issue. I also think that drinking can get out of hand on Folly. I don’t agree that the City should ban it all together. The “put it in a cup” law only creates MORE waste. I have seen more people getting tickets for having their dogs off leash than I have seen trash patrol. Why not spend more time and money on a “litter free beach campaign” instead of policing adults having a drink in a beach chair. Folly is a great place. Always has been, but people need to respect it. Parking and Littering should come before drinking laws.
Folly Beach should allow alcohol in cans only, trash the cup law, have more trash cans and recycle bins with basketball hoops during heavy weekend use,have a citizen patrol with 2 way radio on summer weekends and holidays,no styrofoam coolers, write tickets, increase fines, put up creative signage to warn visitors. Do an eyecatching PR campaign with local artist complete with outdoor, pamphlets (recyclable), radio and newspaper (Folly Current). Make the message fun; but firm. Folly is a fun,unique,bohemian,artistic,creative place…. unlike any other place in America.
Make it the “Edge of a Clean America!”