If you've been waiting all your life to crack a cold one in Stanley Park without fear of recrimination, it's a good day to be alive in Vancouver.

Due to "increasing public demand", the Vancouver Park Board has just announced its Alcohol in Parks Pilot, a program that allows the "responsible consumption" of alcohol in designated drinking sites within 22 Vancouver parks.

From July 12 to October 11 the new pilot program will allow drinking at the following parks between the hours of 11 am and 9 pm daily:

     * Collingwood Park
     * David Lam Park
     * Fraser River Park
     * Granville Park
     * Harbour Green Park
     * John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park
     * Kitsilano Beach Park/Hadden Park
     * Langara Park
     * Locarno Beach Park
     * Maple Grove Park
     * Memorial South Park
     * Memorial West Park
     * New Brighton Park
     * Pandora Park
     * Queen Elizabeth Park
     * Quilchena Park
     * Riverfront Park
     * Robson Park
     * Rupert Park
     * Stanley Park
     * Vanier Park
     * Volunteer Park

The new rules will also allow the consumption of alcohol at select public plazas across the city.

For more info on the Alcohol in Parks Pilot visit the City of Vancouver website here.