RCMP officers are manning a tent at Wreck Beach this summer to cut down on excessive drinking and drug use at the clothing-optional hot spot.

Sgt. Drew Grainger said over-imbibing is a problem every year at the hard-to-reach beach, located at the bottom of a steep cliff west of the University of British Columbia campus.

“It’s an enormous burden on emergency services,” he said. “It’s very difficult for us to get people back up those 465 stairs.”

The tent, described as a “portable police station,” is being erected from the upcoming May long weekend until the end of Labour Day weekend in September.

Grainger said it will have a computer for officers to create new police files when necessary, as well as a table and chairs to encourage engagement with beach-goers.

“We want to basically welcome the community down there to be in open dialogue with us about anything going on,” he said.

Officers are expected to patrol the area from the afternoon into the evening, seven days a week, an increased presence from previous years.

Mounties acknowledged moderate drinking and drug use have become commonplace at the beach, and said discreet individuals will not be their main targets.

“Knowing that alcohol and drugs are going to be consumed one way or another, we have to come to a mutual agreement on what is tolerable and what isn’t,” Grainger said.

“If [people] aren’t disturbing others around them, we can risk that out and we can use some discretion.”

In the past, Mounties have resorted to calling in Coast Guard vessels to get severly intoxicated people off the beach, putting a strain on potentially life-saving resources, according to Grainger.