Seventeen people were arrested at South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, police said, as authorities cracked down on public drinking at the event that usually attracts nearly a million people to the neighborhood.
As of 7 p.m., 17 people had been arrested at or near the parade, according to Boston police. A police spokesperson declined to comment on the specific charges or provide any police reports.
The parade, which began at 11:30 a.m., took a different route this year. Instead of ending at Andrew Square, the parade started there, the Allied War Veterans Council, the parade organizer, announced last month. The adjusted route included a detour to honor the 250th Evacuation Day and was predicted to improve crowd flow.
Anticipating nearly one million attendees, the MBTA ran shuttle buses from South Station to South Boston and skipped the Broadway stop “during certain times due to heavy crowds.”
In a crackdown on public drinking, MBTA Transit Police confiscated dozens of gallons of liquid, according to an image the agency shared on X. Within the first 25 minutes, officers confiscated more than 30 “blackout rage gallons” (borgs), cans, and bottles at Broadway Station. On Sunday, Transit Police also shared images showing a crowded Broadway Station.
### Residents Complain About Underage Drinking and Public Indecency
South Boston residents submitted multiple complaints about parade attendees to 311, citing a large party, underage drinking, and public indecency.
At 3:30 p.m., a neighbor on E Second Street reported a large party with loud music, and city 311 officials referred the situation to police. Another report noted that “underage drinkers have destroyed the path with empties and other trash” on First Street.
Additional complaints called for police to respond to the alley near 64 Telegraph St. to stop ongoing public indecency, including people urinating on private property. According to the 311 report, officers said they were responding to other incidents when residents raised their concerns.
One report included an image of people on a building roof, which 311 referred to the Boston Fire Department.
### Officials Promise Crackdown Following Last Year’s Incidents
Boston officials had promised a crackdown after last year’s parade weekend saw incidents of violence and disorder. Earlier this weekend, officials warned there would be no tolerance for public drinking and cautioned partygoers against drink spiking.
The increased police presence and enforcement this year reflect city efforts to ensure public safety and improve the parade experience for all attendees.
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/03/15/17-arrested-during-st-patrick-day-parade-in-south-boston-police-say/
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