'Just not acceptable': Miami Beach is breaking up with spring break - or at least trying to

05.03.2024 - 23:33 / euronews.com / Saskia ODonoghue

Miami Beach in Florida is trying to break up with spring break - but it's not yet clear whether spring break will take the hint.

The destination is infamous for its popularity as a spring break must-visit. Spring break is time off from University that usually falls around Easter in the US and other countries. Miami Beach is one of the most popular destinations with students.

The rite of passage began in the mid-1930s, when a swimming coach from Colgate University in New York state took his team down to Florida for some early training at a brand-new Olympic-size pool in sunny Fort Lauderdale.

Other colleges followed suit and the tradition emerged into what it is today: American students catching some sun during their break from study.

However, Miami Beach seems to have had enough of the influx.

After three consecutive years of violent incidents, officials are implementing month-long security measures aimed at curbing the chaos, including parking restrictions for non-residents and closing cafes on the main drag on busy weekends.

The city has warned visitors to expect curfews, bag searches at the beach, early beach closures, DUI checkpoints - as well as arrests for drug possession and violence.

Business owners in the city’s world-famous South Beach neighbourhood are now concerned, though, that they'll lose money during one of the busiest times of the year.

Some civil rights advocates are also claiming that the restrictions are an overreaction to large Black crowds.

Many of the city's restrictions aren't new, but in past years, they were instituted as emergency measures during the unofficial spring break holiday - not measures put in place ahead of time.

“The status quo and what we’ve seen in the last few years is just not acceptable, not tolerable,” Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said last month.

Meiner said crowds have become unmanageable despite a robust police presence. He added the city, which is situated on a barrier island across the bay from Miami, can only hold so many people - and that capacity has often exceeded what's safe for both visitors and residents during the break.

Most spring break activity centres around a 10-block stretch of Ocean Drive known for its art deco hotels, restaurants and nightclubs.

David Wallack, owner of Mango’s Tropical Cafe, said Miami Beach has always thrived on celebration, and choking visitor access will turn the vibrant, eclectic city into a retirement community.

“I believe we need to create something big, another big event in March because March has fallen off the edge of the cliff,” Wallack told AP.

Wallack and other locals have proposed a large music festival during the third week of spring break - when aimless and unruly crowds tend to reach their climax - with the hope