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Booze banned in Banff National Park campgrounds on long weekends

BANFF — Banff National Park is banning alcohol in its campgrounds on long weekends.

BANFF — Banff National Park is banning alcohol in its campgrounds on long weekends.

Parks Canada staff say they’ve had too many complaints from campers about intoxicated people ruining their experience in the park.

Wardens say ever since Alberta parks banned alcohol, people have been coming to Banff to drink and party at campgrounds.

Starting this May long weekend, campers will be greeted by wardens and RCMP.

They won’t let anyone into campsites with alcohol.

If campers are caught with booze, fines range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars with jail time.

Wardens say they want to prevent incidents before they happen.

“By the time the enforcement level gets involved it’s too late, they’re too drunk,” said Banff Park Warden Sharon Woods.

“If we can get to them before that happens, if we can deal with them at a preventative level at first, and prevent the situation from escalating, then that’s better for everyone.”