GULF SHORES, Ala. — Gulf Shores police arrested more than 100 people Thursday night after breaking up a spring break house party on West Beach Boulevard, part of a busy season on Alabama’s coast that officials say routinely brings a mix of tourism, traffic and the occasional chaos.
Officers said the house was packed with roughly 113 people, and 109 were arrested for underage possession of alcohol. One person was also charged with complicity, while four others were released without charges, according to Gulf Shores police and local television reports.
Police said the situation escalated after someone dumped a large amount of beer from a balcony onto officers responding to the scene. A similar underage-drinking party nearby the previous night led to 31 arrests, authorities said.
The arrests come as Gulf Shores moves deeper into spring break, a stretch the city and local tourism officials long have treated as both a major economic boost and a public safety challenge. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism officials have described spring break as part of the broader spring tourism season, alongside family events, festivals and beach travel.
Police also have been stepping up enforcement this month. On March 11, Gulf Shores police said 18 people were arrested after beachfront disturbances during spring break crowds, with officers recovering six firearms and filing 23 charges.