Gulf Shores leaders are once again considering strict rules for the busy spring break season, aiming to keep crowds safe and beaches family-friendly. City officials are exploring a renewed ban on alcohol on the public beachfront and a contract for additional law enforcement support. The proposal reflects measures the city has taken in past years after unruly spring break scenes raised concerns. Residents say the outcome will directly impact their safety and quality of life during one of the busiest tourist periods of the year.

The proposed alcohol ban would apply to public beach areas during spring break, from March 1 to April 28, as it has for the last 10 years. During this period, individuals would not be permitted to possess or consume alcoholic beverages on the sand at city beaches. The Gulf Shores Police Department has recommended maintaining the ban, citing its success in reducing dangerous behavior since its implementation. Authorities say the rule aims to address binge drinking, drug use, and large, unruly crowds that previously gathered along the shoreline.

City staff are also requesting that the council approve a contract with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department to provide additional law enforcement during the same period, at a cost of approximately $70,000. The extra deputies would work alongside Gulf Shores officers to manage the increase in visitors. City leaders say the goal is to keep both residents and tourists safe while maintaining order on crowded roads, condos, and beaches.

The city’s alcohol restrictions on the beach date back to 2016, when Gulf Shores first banned alcohol during spring break after a chaotic start to the season. That year, large groups of college students flooded the shoreline, and police reported binge drinking, illegal drugs, and a tense atmosphere that risked clashes with officers. In response, the council adopted a spring break alcohol ban that has been renewed each year since, making this the tenth consecutive year under the policy.

Police say the ordinance has been combined with a “zero tolerance” approach to alcohol and other violations on the beach. Chief of Police Dan Netemeyer noted that, after the first ban in 2016, “dramatic improvements on our beach occurred immediately” and continued in the following years. He stated that the department’s main goal is for “all visitors and residents to our city to have a safe and enjoyable experience,” and additional resources are allocated to the beach during spring break.

Business and tourism officials have largely supported the policy, saying it has not harmed the local economy. Brown said the city has experienced “backfilling from families that now come to the beach for their spring break” and an increase in youth sports tournaments using local fields and beaches. Tourism leaders state that these visitors help keep hotels, condos, and restaurants busy while generating fewer alcohol-related problems.