Panama City’s Sober Spring Break After Setting Bikini Record

After 450 Girls Set New Mark As Spring Break Arrives, Some In The ‘Redneck Riviera’ Are Promoting Alcohol-Free Activities

Okay, let’s give a big “cheers” to Panama City Beach, Florida for breaking the World Bikini Record.

“Cheers!”

It assembled 450 girls in the sexy swimwear to set the new mark. It broke the old record of 357 set last year on Australia’s Gold Coast (get with it now, mates!). Guinness World Record adjudicator Philip Robertson even flew in from London to certify the results.

But this same city – located on Florida’s panhandle that attracts Spring Breakers mostly from Alabama and other coastal Southern states, earning it the nickname the “Redneck Riviera” – also has a no-alcohol zone and activities for students this year. (Panama City, by the way, like all Gulf Coast beaches, has snow power-white sand that beautiful and is so soft it squeaks when you walk on it.)

A total of 18 businesses are participating an unusual experiment called “Sober Spring Break,” which offers discounts to sober ‘Breakers. An amusement area called Miracle Strip has an all-day pass for $12. A nice diversion, to be sure, but would you rather be on a carousel or tilt-a-whirl, or on the beach trying to chase down one of those 450 bikinis?

A place called Shalimar Beach Resort does have mud football but how can you watch or play that sport without a beer handy?

I can guarantee you that the awesome Spinnaker Beach Club, one of the best Spring Break bars on the planet, is not an alcohol-free establishment. It’s an open-air bar on the beach and the first time I walked in I wanted to, in a nod to its nautical name, toss out the anchor.

The place was packed and pretty Southern girls were running around all over the place in shorts. I stood somewhat mesmerized for a few moments, almost as if I were suspended in time. Soon enough I was right in there with them, and I most certainly would not have traded the moment for a sober ride on a Ferris Wheel at a family park.

I’m not criticizing the effort to offer non-alcoholic activities, mind you, during Spring Break or anytime or place. In fact, I applaude it. When I was in Panama City Beach for Spring Break, we did the quintessential Florida beach thing:  Putt-putt golf.

As with any group, there are different levels of partiers. Some you have to pry off the beach and others prefer to take it in limited doses.

Personally, I fall into the first category, if for no other reason that I don’t want to receive a phone call or a text telling me I should have been there yesterday or last night. I don’t want to miss a thing.

Such as 450 girls in bikinis setting a world record.