Folly Beach drinking petition moving toward April presentation

FOLLY BEACH - The group seeking a return of drinking on the front beach says its petition drive is going well.

Omar Colon, of “Voices of Reason - Folly Beach” says they’ve collected around 450 signatures toward their goal of 550.

Colon and his supporters are trying to put the drinking on the beach question to a citywide vote after action by council last year prevented that from happening.

Colon says they’ve collected around 450 signatures toward a goal of 550.

The group says they may be ready to submit their petition to City Council sometime after March. Colon is owner and manager of Bert’s Market on the island.

Council ended Folly’s long-established permissive beach booze attitude after several high-profile events drew large police responses, including a July Fourth riot where thousands appeared for a music-charged party.

To have the issue reheard, Colon’s group needs to get the signatures of 15 percent of the island’s registered voters, or about 330 people or so, on a petition for council to consider.

Council has the option of adopting the wording as written, or sending the issue to a town-wide vote.

Colon’s idea would allow drinking on the beach year-round, except from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on summer Saturdays and Sundays from May 1 to mid-September.

Beverages also would be banned on the beach during the 24 hours of the three major summer holidays: Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day.