BOSTON, March 17 (UPI) -- Boston cops are enforcing what City Hall calls "zero tolerance" of public drinking at Sunday's St. Patrick's Day parade in Southie.
Even before the parade starts, officers will fan out on sidewalks along the 2.3-mile route down Broadway and confiscate containers, cases, cans and cups containing alcohol -- tossing confiscated libations in a "packer" truck, the Boston Herald reported.
Some doubt the crackdown will work as houses along the route host parties and liquor stores open for business on Sunday.
For the third consecutive year, there will be alcohol-free areas sponsored by groups that work to stop alcohol abuse, where families can take part in face-painting and hot-dog eating without bumping into smashed parade-goers.
In 2003, police confiscated more than 1,000 open beer cans before the parade began -- even after announcing that public drinking would not be tolerated.
