Alcohol Ban In Effect On American River For Rafting Gone Wild
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Signs of the alcohol ban this weekend are out, but park rangers warn it will be a dangerous and wild weekend on the water.
Two separate river parties are expected to draw thousands of rafters. A temporary ban is in place on the American River from Watt Avenue to Hazel Avenue.
The annual Rafting Gone Wild will be going on this Saturday and patrols will be in force looking for troublemakers and their coolers.
The party started on social media with thousands expected to show up on Saturday.
"They take the partying and getting together for recklessness. you know things the park is not meant for," said Kelly Dugger.
She and her husband have seen the party get out of hand from fighting to resisting arrest to excessive drinking.
"Everybody should just have fun but it never happens when alcohol gets along so I'm glad the bans there," said Derrick Paiva.
Alcohol is off limits where rafts will flow downstream for about five miles.
Companies like American River Raft Rentals couldn't ask for better business, but Kent Hansen admits he's not so wild about all the wildness.
"With this type of event we feel like it's more of just to go out there and get inebriated, and sometimes you don't have your wits about you and that's when problems happen," he said.
With hundreds of warning signs posted, Sgt. Brian Vizzusi is well aware of the party's reputation.
"They rent rafts and it's all about alcohol and smuggling alcohol and getting drunk," he said. "Rafting and alcohol and rivers don't mix."
On Sunday, Rage on the River will be on the Sacramento River, where rafters tie their boats together and live it up.
