Fort Myers Beach prepares for more college students next spring break

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- A Fort Myers Beach leader is preparing for more college students next spring break.

The vice mayor is expecting more crowds after Panama City started cracking down on drinking as this year’s spring break grew out of control.

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Dan Andre tells WINK News he’s taking no chances when it comes to the possibility of more college students choosing the island as their spring break destination next year. In fact, he has already talked to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

“I think the sheriff’s department has been well alerted, they will be prepared for this and it’s going to stay nice and peaceful on the beach,” said Andre.

Panama City recently voted to limit drinking on the beach after recent incidents. A shooting and a sexual assault on the beach were captured on camera. The vice mayor says he thinks that means more students will head further south to Fort Myers Beach.

“I think we get a different crowd here, I’m not trying to generalize anybody, but hopefully that crowd won’t travel this far,” said Andre.

WINK News stopped by a new beach business The Salty Crab Bar and Grill. We wanted to know what the beach front bar thought about the precaution the vice mayor is already taking.

“I 100 percent agree that’s a good idea. Anything we can do to prevent anything from happening on the beach, I think is an absolute plus,” said Desi Brownlow.

“They will be prepared for it and if it requires extra man power then they will provide it,” Andre told WINK News.

The sheriff’s office says it always prepares for a high number of visitors during spring break.