Yes, life isn’t fair — but shame on the city for abetting an end run that rubs its citizenry’s nose in it.

The Caldwell administration OK’d a one-time exception that enabled this weekend’s NFL Pro Bowl beach party to set up a private party with liquor, within the much-larger public event. All this on a public beach, which is under a decades-long policy of “no alcohol.” Strong opposition emerged when the city had floated, on the NFL’s behalf, the idea for an exemption to the liquor ban. So instead, an end run was made by a nonprofit group, which secured a special-event license from the city Liquor Commission to serve alcohol.

To be clear: We enjoy the Pro Bowl here; heck, we even enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage. But bending public policy at a public beach to take care of some private, monied special interest? Offensive foul.