In the infamous words of Vice President Kamala Harris, Miami officials have a message for would-be tourists: “Do not come.”
“Hey Spring Break, we’re over,” the City of Miami Beach account posted on X on March 1, along with a video of locals asking rowdy spring breakers to stay home.
“Our idea of a good time is relaxing on the beach, hitting up the spa, or checking out a new restaurant,” it said. “You just want to get drunk in public and ignore laws.”
Last year, things took a dark turn in the coastal city known for its nightlife: Revelers became so disruptive that the city saw 488 arrests and 230 felony charges. Two people were killed in Miami Beach shootings.
This year, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is cracking down in advance, announcing that he is deploying state troopers to popular spring break hubs. “We’re a law-and-order state,” DeSantis said. “You are going to pay the price and be held accountable if you’re coming for reasons other than to have fun. That is not gonna fly in the Sunshine State.”
This isn’t the first time drunken college students have sparked fear and resentment in locals. Fort Lauderdale in the 1980s was the place to be for teenagers on spring break but not families or more subdued travelers. In 1985, the city cracked down on overpacked bars, open containers, underage drinkers, and more, resulting in thousands of arrests.
“The kids got the message real quick that Fort Lauderdale doesn’t want us anymore,” said Ina Lee, president of TravelHost of Greater Fort Lauderdale and member of the task force charged with snuffing out debauchery.
Today, Miami’s PSA takes a similar approach. “Just so you know we’re serious, this March, you can expect things like curfews, bag checks and restricted beach access, DUI checkpoints, $100 parking, and strong police enforcement for drug possession and violence,” warns the video.
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One may wonder what went so wrong with today’s young people that a region with a $20 billion tourism industry is begging them not to visit, but if the history of Fort Lauderdale is any indication, there have long been drunken revelers causing problems for those around them. With any luck, Miami will turn out like Fort Lauderdale and end up with a more subdued vacation scene. Partiers with undeveloped prefrontal cortices and a lack of law and order make for a dangerous combination.
“Maybe we can talk when you’re done with your spring break phase,” says one speaker in the PSA. “But until then…” Until then, Miami can implement a simple test to see whether a tourist is old enough to drink responsibly: If he or she can name one song featuring Pitbull, the rapper born in Miami, then he or she is almost certainly a millennial (no younger than late 20s). Generation Z, meanwhile, will have to stay home.
