Beer Sales at Parks pointless?

What is the point of serving beer at parks if its only going to be light? The reason I think it is so light is because if people would drink too much before they go on a ride and then they would pass out. Any Inputs.

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The point is to make $6.50 a cup, or whatever they charge.

Selling alcoholic drinks at amusement parks is a touchy topic to an extent - personally, I figure that the $30-50+ admission price is a bit high for a cover charge, and there are far too many people that do drink too much and make a nuisance out of themselves. On the other hand, there are plenty of people that just enjoy a light drink, no problem. It can be a higher health risk, however, when the parks are so hot during the summer and alcohol serves to dehydrate you even faster. While it may seem like "why bother, get rid of it..." serving alcohol is a tremendous profit-maker, and 99% of the people that do purchase alcoholic drinks in that sort of setting do so responsibly, not only for their own health, but for their behavior.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html

Hey, if it wasnt for beer, we would never have had Kumba, Montu, Gwazi, Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot, etc..

Personally, I think it's a damn shame when you cant find a beer at a park. It's even worse when you *can* get a beer, but are forced to sit in one place and drink it *koff*PKI*koff*SFGAm*hack*.

And I dont know what you mean by "light" if you mean light in color (as opposed to a dark brew like Guniness) market research shows that a pale lager is the most commonly bought beer (Budweiser to be exact; learned that @ SWF's 'Beer School' :)). If you mean "lite" as in Miller Lite (tastes great, less filling) then I dont know what parks you go to, but @ SFGAm, SFA, SFWoA, HP, and of course the Busch parks, you can bet non-lite brews.
jeremy
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"Here we are in St. Louis, home of Budweiser. You know, the Valboski isn't a big beer drink, but always has time for a little Anheuser Busch - Val Venis

Being a NON-Drinker I think parks should ban all Beer sales. ( Just like you guys who want to ban the smokers) too many drunks at the parks.
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi

Some parks feel this way (SFOT, Magic Kingdom), but most are desperate enough for any kind of profitable purchases by guests that alcohol sales make more sense than they don't. Have you REALLY seen "too many drunks" at a park? Not many folks can really afford to get roaring drunk at these prices!

On the other hand, parks make no extra money off smokers. All it does is increase the litter and pollution in the queues.

It is sold for profit. PERIOD. But the parks found they have to control it, ie Black Saturday at PKI when 1 drunk girl fell out of the Flight Commander (documented) and the drunk guy fell in the lake and 2 guys were electrocuted trying to save him (reported on here). It should either be HIGHLY controlled, or not sold at all.

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Dennis said:
"Being a NON-Drinker I think parks should ban all Beer sales. ( Just like you guys who want to ban the smokers) too many drunks at the parks.
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi"

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We're not trying to ban smoking, were just wanting the smokers to follow the established rules.

Sounds like the stupid people should be controlled, not the alcohol.

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PointMan said:

We're not trying to ban smoking, were just wanting the smokers to follow the established rules."

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Most drinkers tend to smoke more, and under the influnce care less. Most drinkers don't follow rules they break them
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi

Right, I don't really see that many drunks at the parks, and yes, it is expensive. People are there to have a good time, not fight like soccer fan.
At BGT the hospitality center is between Montu and Kumba. I stop on the way and grab a free sample, hits the spot on a hot July day, then do it on the way back to Montu.
At SWF the hospitality center is in the far back corner by the Clydesdales. Grab a sample on the way to the Shamu show. Then I'll buy a couple beers at the Dolphin Key West area because that place is so cool. It's like you're really in the keys, so yes, they've made some money off of me, but it was worth it.
As far as passing out on a ride, naw. I only drink a few beers at a park because of the price, so I'm not drunk. It's a light buzz just to get relaxed. I mean, we're on vacation. That's what people do, have a few drinks, unwind, and forget about work. So the parks will keep selling it. And now with places like City Walk between IOA and US, you can even get the hard stuff if you want, but it's expensive.
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Robin Fox - "I see Stars, Can You See Them Too?"

Dennis, I don't think anyone ever said they wanted to ban smoking in parks altogether...just the queues.

What research at all do you have to back yourself up on the "people that drink alcohol smoke more" theory?

There are many people that smoke at parks and don't drink because they'd rather save up the money on more cigarettes.

There are others that drink beer because they want to and don't smoke because they never took up the habit.

Then there are people that will both smoke and drink because they want to.

Then there are the economical people that neither smoke nor drink because they have already spent $30 - $50 on the admission ticket.

Where do you keep coming up with the claim that people that drink tend to smoke?



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Your best? Losers are always whining about doing their best...winners go home and ******* the prom queen.

To quote Homer Simpson - "Mmmmmmmm, Beer!" :) But seriously, beer is OK, if enjoyed in moderation. In the heat, too many brings on a coaster headache anyway, so I don't overindulge. Besides, park beer prices are highway robbery - I usually reserve the alcohol for the end of the day - my cooler is much cheaper!

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First we Rock - Then we Roll!

CPgenius
what research ..None Experience..Plenty.
It may be true not all those who drink, smoke.
but you said
"There are many people that smoke at parks and don't drink because they'd rather save up the money on more cigarettes."
yeah were is your reasearch buddy ?

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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi

You're right,not only beer but soft drinks as well.
It's a proven fact that more people at an amusement park get hurt while or after drinking soft drinks than beer.
Lets all start a petition and get rid of all the evils that soda can cause at an amusement park.
*** This post was edited by DirtyVern on 7/12/2001. ***

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DirtyVern said:
"It's a proven fact that more people at an amusement park get hurt while or after drinking soft drinks than beer.
"

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Wow. I guess a lot of people get hurt at Holiday World, seeing how they endorse the evil soft drinks to the extent of giving it away!:)
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So many coasters - so little time.

I can see everyones points, but I personally can't stand it when people take all smokers, and all drinkers and group them into one nasty category.

I can smoke and drink at a park and not disrespect anyone, and not cause an ounce of trouble. It's not my fault that others can't do this.. why in the world should I be grouped with them in everyone's minds?

Everyone wants to ban everything. If I had my way, I'd ban 12 year old girls from going to parks caked in makeup and dressing like 25 year old women.

I'd also ban people in line from singing annoying songs, jumping up and down, and not paying attention to when the the line moves forward, while 100 other people are anxiously awaiting to move up.

Drinking and smoking are the least of things that bother me when I go to a park.

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"La La La... at the DEMON! Blah blah blah blah at the DEMON! (I swear if I ever have to hear that song again..)

Even Icehouse tastes good at the park. I would be mad if beer wasn't an option at the larger parks at least. I understand small alcohol free parks and all, like at the beach for example, but I for one have never seen anybody drunk and unruley at a park. My guess is they get rid of them quickly when it happens. If you get real messed up, it's no fun to ride, so that alone is a deterent, IMO. The stuff is expensive, but not if you're only having one drink.

Dennis, just give it a rest. You want to throw your beliefs and opinions at the rest of us with this stereotypical B.S. but it doesnt prove anything. I myself enjoy an adult beverage and also enjoy a cigarette and I can tell you right now that I am just as responsible as yourself. Like 2Hostlyl said, if it werent for adult beverage running parks, we wouldnt have some of the coasters out there today. If everyone obeys the rules and arent unrulely, then who cares if they serve beer or allow people to smoke in designated areas.

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Chitowns 6 year old daughter says "Daddy, Dippin Dots are nasty!!" I must say that I agree!!

Exactly, Chitown. Me personally, I neither smoke nor drink, but I have no problem with those who do so long as they are following whatever regulations are in place (not smoking in queues and ruining my day), and they don't make a terrible scene to make themselves look like idiots, though really that's their choice. We all have our opinions, beliefs, and values, as do those individuals that run parks, but what they need to consider is how to make a tidy profit while keeping the majority of guests happy, in whatever way they can. The fact of the matter is, a lot of people do enjoy the occassional drink, especially while relaxing on a fun day, and that allows the park to make a few more dollars that can be spent on improvements that we will all enjoy.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html