Panama City Beach, sometimes labeled as the "spring break capital of the world," has managed to body slam the college party on the sand this season.

Crowds and business are both down sharply compared to this time last year, following new alcohol limits the Florida city enacted after bitter spring break troubles in 2015. The changes, including a more aggressive police presence, come as many metro Atlanta high school students and families prepare for their own spring vacation beach trips.

Other beach towns may pick up what PCB loses. Check out more on what the scene is like now and what sparked PCB's soul searching, in my latest Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller