Law enforcement ready for St. Patrick's Day on the beach

By Dave Culbreth

CREATED Mar. 16, 2013

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  • Law enforcement ready for St. Patrick's Day on the beach Video by fox4now.com

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FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. - We all know that consuming alcohol on Fort Myers Beach is a controversial topic and with this being a busy weekend with St. Patrick's Day, we're finding out how law enforcement is enforcing the laws.
 
They were dressed in all shades of green.
 
Green tops, green bottoms, green necklaces, green shades, green hats, green everything. And under a blue sky even a green building. 
 
People young and old really decked out - in green.
 
There's even the shade of green of the Lee County Sheriff. 
 
"They just look and see if anyone's underage and if they think they're underage they check them out, but other than that you can have a good time," said Joe Curtis.
 
There are three places where alcohol can be consumed on the beach.
 
People we talked with say deputies certainly have a presence and people say they do their job but at the same time don't make the tourists feel uncomfortable. 
 
"They're pretty awesome here actually," added Emily, who didn't want to use her last name. "They're not intense at all".
 
Some, though, said they were certainly questioned. "I mean a little bit," said Patrick. "I have a baby face and the cops ask me every time".
 
We met some people from places who should know about how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 
 
"I've been coming here for 13 years," said Kenny Rouse.
 
"I'm from Boston. I come down here to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with all
my nieces," added Joe Curtis.
 
What about the locals? What do they think?
 
"On normal days you go to the beach and there's not any body here but on Spring Break every body's here, you have a good time," said Katrina Drakes of Fort Myers Beach.