Despite the cold weather lingering outside, warmer weather is just around the corner and Gulf Shores is already preparing for spring break crowds as the council unanimously approved an alcohol ban on city beaches in March and April.

The ban is set to take place between March 1 through April 28. Gulf Shores Deputy Police Chief Joe Taylor said this is "just the same as it was in years past."

In response to "dangerous activities we were seeing on the beachfront" during spring break 2016, the council put an emergency alcohol ban in place.

The agenda item states Gulf Shores Police Department encountered "numerous issues with large groups of spring breakers binge drinking, using illegal narcotics and creating a dangerous atmosphere for themselves and other visitors."

"Since then, we have requested and received an alcohol ban for the spring break time frame, in the same period, each year [following] that," Taylor said.

In the past, the ban has left the beaches with "dramatic improvements," the agenda item states.

At the Feb. 2 council work session where the resolution was presented Mayor Robert Craft spoke on how well the ban has worked for the city previously.

"It's something that I anticipate we will continue to do as long as spring break continues to bring so many people down," he said.

While Orange Beach City Council has not specifically voted on an alcohol ban, alcohol is not allowed on state-owned beach access points year-round, according to the Alabama State Parks Rules and Regulations guidebook.

Cotton Bayou, Alabama Point East, Romar Beach and Shell Beach are state-owned beach access points in Orange Beach. For Gulf Shores, state-owned access points include Branyon Beach and Gulf State Park Pavilion.

In a conduct violation section of the guidebook, excessive noise between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. is also prohibited year-round.

"It shall be unlawful to incite or participate in riots, indulge in boisterous, abusive, threatening, indecent or disorderly conduct in any State Park area," the conduct violation section reads. "Anyone in violation of this regulation may be forcibly ejected from the park or arrested and shall not be entitled to a refund of any fee or rental."