TORONTO - Hang on to your beer tents.

Ontario police chiefs are waving a red flag over Premier Dalton McGuinty's pre-election plans to relax the province's liquor laws.

Under the proposed changes, people could wander freely at festivals with a beer in hand, instead of being confined to a fenced-in area.

The governing Liberals are also looking at allowing weddings and charity events to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m., and opening up the province to all-inclusive vacation packages.

Those changes may appeal to some voters ahead of the Oct. 6 election, but police leaders are not amused.

The move could encourage underage drinking, create unsafe environments for families and a logistical headache for officers trying to enforce the law, said Ottawa police Chief Vernon White.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police said it shares those concerns, particularly when it comes to easing restrictions that would eliminate the need for beer tents.

"We're really, strenuously opposed to this," said Joe Couto, a spokesman for the association.

"A beer tent or fenced-in area provides accountability to the licensee, so that they can control the number of people in the tents, the age of patrons and ensure that they remain compliant with the permits."

Easing the laws could create a logistical nightmare for police during massive events like Toronto's Pride Week or Caribana festival, as well as Queen's University's homecoming weekend in Kingston, Ont., he said.

"You may be pumping up tourism, but you may also be creating issues, and for us, creating public safety issues is a really, really bad idea -- for governments to just barrel into something without really considering the impact on the broader community," Couto added.

McGuinty, who shrugged off the changes as not a "high-profile thing" last week, said he's prepared to hear what police have to say.

"We're listening," he said Wednesday.

"Again, it's a proposal and we're consulting. That's why we didn't run out there with it as a fait accompli, as they say. We just put it out there, and we're listening to everyone, including our police chiefs."

McGuinty is "playing with fire" by taking aim at Ontario's liquor laws, said NDP justice critic Peter Kormos.

"The last thing a family member wants walking with their kids through a street festival is some drunk stumbling into them, spilling beer on them and their kids," he said.

"And this is what Premier McGuinty is creating. McGuinty fails to understand that alcohol is a potent, dangerous and addictive drug."

Opposition Leader Tim Hudak said the premier should have talked to the cops before putting the wheels in motion to revamp the rules.

"It's very odd that the premier would leave out the chiefs of police, who would have a very keen eye on what happens on the ground," Hudak said.

"It just speaks to me of an announcement that they threw together at the last minute to distract from skyrocketing hydro bills, rather than thinking it through."

Attorney General Chris Bentley said he's planning to meet with police chiefs to discuss the liquor laws, and will hold consultations over three weeks with other groups, including municipalities and the tourism industry. Members of the public will also be able to comment by email.

Even if the changes are made, municipalities and event organizers won't be forced to change along with them, he added.

"Festival owners don't have to proceed with the options. Municipalities don't have to proceed with the options," Bentley said.

"It's a question of increasing the freedom to choose in a number of areas where Ontarians don't right now have the freedom to choose."

The move to ease liquor laws was a surprising change of heart for McGuinty, who has been dubbed Premier Dad for his "Father Knows Best" governing style.

Just a few weeks ago, McGuinty mocked Hudak for publicly musing about the days when beer could be bought for a dollar in Ontario. The premier dismissed it as "a bright, shiny object" designed to distract voters from important issues like jobs and the economy.

McGuinty is looking for a lifesaver amid polls suggesting his approval rating has plunged to rock-bottom, said Kormos.

"Premier Dad has clearly become Premier Bad," he said.

Former Liberal premier David Peterson promised during the 1985 election to put beer and wine in corner stores, but never delivered.

McGuinty has made it clear he won't allow corner stores to stock wine or beer any time soon.