The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is asking surrounding municipalities to consult with them before moving ahead with a bylaw to allow alcohol at municipally approved outdoor cultural and community events.
Ontario’s new Bring-Your-Own-Beverage (BYOB) framework took effect April 30th, 2026, and allows adults 19 and older to bring alcohol to a range of events; however, municipalities will need to pass a bylaw and create approval processes for eligible events.
A motion was approved at the WECHU board meeting on Thursday, which advises Windsor-Essex municipalities to work with the health unit before adopting the bylaw. This would also allow the health unit to provide guidance, local health data, and recommendations aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.
While the province says these new rules are intended to support tourism, lower event costs, and boost economic activity, the health unit says increased alcohol availability can also lead to higher consumption, increased impaired driving, and more permissive attitudes toward drinking among youth.
According to the health unit, 62 percent of Windsor-Essex residents report regular alcohol use, while more than 2,000 emergency department visits in 2024 were linked to alcohol - more than any other substance.
Eric Nadalin, WECHU Director of Public Health Programs, says they want to be able to provide guidance.
“If they are considering making any move related to alcohol and increasing potential exposure to alcohol in public settings that they work closely with us. And to date, we have great relationships with our municipalities and the health unit, and they’ve been very open to those discussions.”
He says the health unit wants to ensure the most appropriate measures are in place if municipalities are considering this bylaw.
“That could involve things like designated consumption areas, it could involve things like additional fencing, security, low-risk drinking guidelines... those types of measures that we would advocate for should a municipality want to explore something like this. It’s not our understanding currently that any are, and we already have begun outreach to those municipalities.”
Nadalin says it’s always concerning for the health unit when there’s additional access or exposure to any harmful substance in public settings.
“In particular, those that involve young people; that also extends to people who are in recovery or that are looking to abstain from alcohol use, and additional exposure often becomes a challenge for those folks,” he says. “So, we want to make sure that we have our finger on the pulse of any sort of policy direction, and we’re able to provide our municipal decision-makers with the best possible information.”
The motion would also see the resolution circulated to local councils, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Ontario Public Health Association.
The health unit is not opposing the province’s policy outright but says safeguards will be important if municipalities choose to opt in, such as designated drinking areas, event screening criteria, enforcement planning, and harm-reduction messaging.