STOKES COUNTY -- Stokes County leaders are wanting to ban drinking alcohol while tubing on the river. County commissioners say it is to protect the Dan River as well as property owners.

Hillside Dan River Tubing has been a popular summer destination since 2009.       

"A bunch of people get together, they want to come out and hang out and laugh and joke and carry on and they get a few beers," said Michael Fulp, Hillside Dan River Tubing.

But the beer is what Stokes County commissioners say is the problem.

"There were complaints about different groups going down to the river, kids having to listen to cursing, people drinking going down slinging stuff at them. We've had complaints of people stepping on broken beer bottles and glass in the river along with cans," said Mike Marshall, Stokes County sheriff.

Currently, there are no county laws prohibiting alcohol use on the Dan River. Michael Fulp, owner of Hillside Dan River Tubing, says he's only had one incident this summer, so he doesn't mind drinking on his property.

"You come to the river to drink beer. Some handle it better than others and you got ball games that allows drinking, you got coliseums that allow drinking, if you take it out it's going to affect it," said Fulp.

Singletree Gun and Plough is a business on top of a mountain that overlooks Hanging Rock State Park. The owner says she has five miles of river front access and has concerns about the proposal.

"No one wants their rights to be infringed upon, but I also see the problem downstream where they have so much trash and evidentally lots of people throwing beer cans, and if I were a landowner downstream, I might feel differently," said Johannah Stern, Singletree Gun and Plough owner.

Sheriff Marshall says it's OK to have fun, but draws the line when property is vandalized.

"When you start disrespecting other people's property, it's when it becomes an issue. This is not a problem that we've created or we're trying to create a bigger problem. What we're trying to do is find a resolution where people can have their fun and us be able to protect the property owners' rights we well," said Marshall.

The next Stokes County commissioners meeting is Sept. 28.