Some of Florida’s warm weather spring break destinations are implementing a cooler welcome this season, with the introduction of alcohol bans, increased law enforcement measures, and even a “stay away”, anti spring break tourism campaign.
Growing debauchery and safety issues
Fort Lauderdale became synonymous with the holiday after an annual swim team meet was set up there back in the thirties and the destination was the setting for a 1950s book and film about spring break.
By the eighties, the town’s population was regularly swamped by more than two holidaymaking students for every one resident, amid a growing reputation for debauchery across Florida’s resort towns, with reports of students falling off balconies and strain on medical provision and policing.
Last year there were two shooting deaths in Miami Beach in spring break season. And over the five week period, 573 people were arrested, numbers which place “huge and costly stress on city resources”, according to Melissa Berthier, director of marketing and communications for the City of Miami Beach.
“Tough new measures”
That’s why, Berthier says, “city leaders are implementing tough new measures aimed at putting an end to spring break.” The more hostile environment will include “restricted beach access and bag checks, parking garage closures, DUI checkpoints, licence plate reader details, and heightened police enforcement for consumption of alcohol in public, drug possession and violent behaviour.”
It’s all part of a Miami Beach “Break Up with Spring Break”campaign to deter “unruly crowds from coming”, Berthier explained, adding “We cannot tolerate another year like the last few.”
Warning pages online tell spring breakers sobering news about the destination, including heightened security, policing and curfews in place, plus the information that many short term Airbnb rentals are illegal, that traffic will be “bumper to bumper” and that liquor stores will close at 8pm.
“The status quo and what we’ve seen in the last few years is just not acceptable,” Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said last month. “I have a moral obligation to keep people safe.”
Across the state
It’s not just Miami beach. Destinations across Florida are taking action. More than 15 different local law enforcement agencies have asked for State assistance over the spring break period, according to Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, who has sent 60 state troopers south.
Fort Lauderdale has prohibited alcohol and police and undercover officers will be making their presences felt on horseback, bikes, ATVS and in cars. Hotel staff and lifeguards are being roped in to the effort to maintain order, with supplies of Narcan – an anti opioid overdose drug – given to them by the Fire Department.
