QUEBEC CITY -
Fleur-de-lys flag? Check. Fleur-de-lys hat? Check. Fleur-de-lys umbrella? Check.
Labatt 50? Nope.
Those preparing to attend the Quebec City festivities for the St. Jean Baptiste, aka, Fete Nationale celebrations had to leave the suds behind this year.
The rule was enacted after several previous festivities ended in drunken mayhem and destruction.
The measure has caused denizens of the old capital to breathe a sigh of relief.
"We always are actually a bit nervous because of what happened a few years ago particularly, back in the 90s," said restaurant owner James Monti.
A city official explained the sobriety-encouraging rule. "We had a lot of people getting real intoxicated and if we let things go we don't know what can happen."
Those determined to get hammered while watching the patriotic shows can still do so but they'll have to shell out for beer sold in plastic cups.
Serious budget-minded beer drinkers were surely disappointed and so too was a merchant who made some serious cash of beer sales.
"It's the biggest day of the year," said corner-store owner Normande Doucette.
In Montreal, the annual celebration got off to a soggy start as unrelenting rains hammered the region.
Among the province-wide 6,500 events slated for Saturday include an afternoon parade on Sherbrooke between Fullum and Pie-IX, ending at Maisonneuve Park where many activities await. A show with such performers as Robert Charlebois, Eric Lapointe and Rufus Wainwright kicks off there at 9 p.m.
A show at Cabrini Park in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve will take place Saturday at 8 p.m. with a tribute to Alys Roby, starring Patsy Gallant among others.
