SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, introduced AB 951 today to ban alcohol on non-motorized vessels on portions of the American River (the river) during certain summer holiday periods. 

“We want to make sure that the American River is a safe and enjoyable place for the thousands of people who celebrate summer holidays there,” said Jones.  “People should be able to enjoy the river on these weekends without worrying about the repercussions of excessive alcohol consumption.”

There have been widespread concerns about rafters on the river consuming large amounts of alcohol during certain summer holiday weekends.  Alcohol consumption has contributed to problems experienced during the summer holiday weekends including fights, public nudity, littering, and other violations. 

These concerns prompted the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to ban consumption of alcoholic beverages and the possession of open alcoholic beverage containers on the land along the river between Hazel Avenue and Watt Avenue during three summer holiday weekends: Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.

However, the state has jurisdiction over alcohol on the waterway itself.  As a result, the County resolution does not prevent individuals from carrying alcohol to the river in closed containers and then consuming it in non-motorized vessels on the river.  Thus, problems related to excessive alcohol consumption on the river during these holiday weekend periods continue.

AB 951 would seek to close this loophole by banning alcohol on non-motorized vessels on portion of the river between Hazel and Watt avenues during the summer holiday periods that the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors prohibits the alcohol on land portions along the river.

“The extent of the problems on the river during these summer holiday periods points to the need for immediate legislative action,” stated Jones.  “This bill will ensure that Sacramento County has the flexibility it needs to make sure that the river is a safe place for people to enjoy the summer holidays.”