Campers may not appreciate long-weekend liquor bans but according to the province, the bans are working.

Since 2004 when the temporary liquor ban program was first implemented, unacceptable behaviours such as impaired driving, assaults and vandalism have decreased in these areas by an average of 90 per cent, according to a provincial spokesperson.

“The reduction of about 90 per cent has shown us that it has been an effective way to still allow people to enjoy the parks over the long weekend, but still make it safe and friendly for everyone,” said Erin Larson of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Larson said the decision to enforce a ban is based on previous incidents at particular parks.

“The sites selected are re-evaluated every year and we do look at those enforcement stats and see if it’s still required there or not,” she said, adding the ban was removed at one of the parks this year.

Rather than deterring campers, Larson said the parks with bans tend to attract more families and those sites tend to remain popular.

RCMP Sgt. Dave Hardy said they have scaled back enforcement slightly over the last few years as more Albertans are complying with rules, but he added there will still be plenty of officers out this weekend.

“There will be check-stops out in locations that have historically had high volumes of campers and recreational users. We will be out just doing what we can to make sure people get to a destination safely.”