Over 30 concerned Southampton residents applauded a decision yesterday by the Liquor Licence Authority not to grant a licence to the Horseshoe Bay Cafe, at Bermuda's signature South Shore beach.

The Authority denied an application by the South Shore Hospitality Group, and owner Maurice Caines, because Horseshoe Bay Beach was listed as a park in the Bermuda National Parks Act.

A representative of the Parks Department told Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves that the land extending from the west from Horseshoe Bay Beach east to Warwick Long Bay was listed as social park land.

Leading the opposition was Mrs. Sallie Singleton who ? in 1986 ? fought a similar plan to sell alcohol at the beach.

Mrs. Singleton told the Authority how difficult was for the public to make objections to liquor licences, when the applicant only had to put a small ad in the Official Gazette on June 11.

She said the public only had a week to put their concerns in writing and that short time frame meant that most of the letters had to be hand delivered.

Mr. Greaves replied that those issues needed to be discussed with the "Minister responsible".

Also opposing the application were representatives of the National Drug Commission and Pride, as well as various church groups.

Arguing in support of the application, entertainer and tourism champion, Tony Brannon said limiting the sale of alcohol at Horseshoe Bay Beach would eventually reflect on tourism, and he noted other beach concessions, such as Coral Beach, were allowed to sell liquor.

One man ? who identified himself as one of the owners of the Horseshoe Bay Cafe ? said there were many issues at Horseshoe Bay Beach that the opposition was not discussing.

"What is really happening is drugs and children selling drinks in the trees. The bathrooms are used to wash clothes.

"On the Queen's birthday, there were two gangs down on the beach fighting. Police blocked off every gate so they could not escape."

He said he advised parents of the summer students working at the beach both to drop off and pick up their children because "their friends were waiting at the top of the hill to take their money.

"There is a lot of stuff going on. It is going to get real bad out there", he said.

Mr. Greaves said that yesterday's decision had no parallel to the recent approval for a liquor licence at Gombeys, at Clearwater Beach in St. David's, which is situated on Bermuda Land Development Corporation land.

"They have a statutory mandate to use for the economic or social benefit of the community. This is a wide term. They can build a race track, or a hotel, or a landfill if they feel it is good for the community".

He backed up the Liqour Licence Authority's decision of granting a permit there despite over 100 St. David's residents signing a petition in objection.

"The restaurant is not so bad," said Mr. Greaves.

"There must be a balance with the claims of the local community. It is only used as a beach for a short period of the year. The man is going to invest money. It will impossible for him to make money unless you draw people out."

Amazed at the show of support for an alcohol-free beach, Mr. Greaves made note of the number of people who attended the hearing.

"I have never seen so many people in here so early in the morning," Mr. Greaves said.