500 callers oppose beer sales at Six Flags Over Texas

^ - Jesus turned water into wine so that an already schnockered wedding could keep rocking...I don't think he'll have a problem at concerts.

I'm surprised this is even an issue. You'd think people would be past the whole alcohol is evil thing by now.

Again I don't see any mention of religious or church groups mentioned in the article. Where are people getting that from...did I miss it?

Article 1- (the news story)
""This seems inconsistent with a family-style theme park," said Wright, who helped lead the 2001 charge to deny an alcohol sales permit to a Hooters restaurant in southwest Arlington because of its proximity to Martin High School. After years of appeals, the restaurant won its permit in October."

Article 2 - (linked by CoastaPlaya above)
"The company's South Arlington, Texas location announced that after a 2-1/2 year struggle in which they were forced to give beer away rather than have guests go without, will begin selling alcohol at 4 PM CDST today."......"The fight began in 2005 when an ultra conservative community group from South Arlington was able to convince an elected judge to ignore the law and suspend the Hooters location's liquor license in the name of political expediency. The group called Partnership for Community Values had hoped that without a liquor license Hooters would be forced to close in the South Arlington community."

Can't find any information about this "Partnership for Community Values", but odds are its a not a group that likes people who don't believe the way they do.

It isn't just a small organization or church group. It is a variety of people for sure.

Also, at one point Six Flags over Texas advertised that to stay a family friendly place it would not sell alcohol. That of course was decades ago, but I also found that interesting that it was a selling point back in the day.

Wow..It's perfectly all right to carry a loaded gun around, and it is OK to send 18 year olds to their deaths in an occupation. But having a few beers in an amusement park? BLASPHEMY!!Jeez...

I do not understand why drinking in a park is such an issue. Whenever I visit the US(I am Canadian), It floors me that you can buy beer in gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, anywhere! Heck, I bought beer at 2:00 in the morning in San Fran! Insane!

Yet selling booze in a theme park is wrong!

I just do not get it.
*** This post was edited by El Gato Coastro 1/3/2008 1:52:12 PM ***

"... it's not a group that likes people who don't believe the way they do." Sounds exactly like this place! :)

Notice that the article Playa linked to was "authored" by Texas Wings, which is the franchisee of the Hooters in question. So I wouldn't exactly consider that an impartial news article.

Anyway, I wouldn't have problems with beer being sold in sit-down restaurants or pub settings. But SF doesn't really make that clear by saying beer will be sold in various points throughout the park. Maybe their application says otherwise, but the opposition is making it sound like they're going to be tapping kegs on the ride platforms and in the queues, and the park is doing nothing to refute that.

Isn't that what your PR people are there for-- to make sure accurate information is being dispersed? They should point out how and where beer is served in your other parks and that there have been no problems resulting from beer (purchased inside the park, at least). Your argument can't rely on one local politician saying "but they need the money." Lame.

WOW.. Wish someone wasn't drinking when they produced that grade a Pres we got right now... (wink)

I never drink at parks, but I do like to get the drink on at other times.. The one time I did drink, It was the trip to Mexico City. It started raining at SF Mexico and we ran into a place that served Beer and had a great old time. Nobody got out of hand and it was great to see coaster lovers laid back enjoying a drink. Hey if you don't like it... Don't come. SF is not going to miss you.*** This post was edited by CoasterMonkey 1/3/2008 10:08:09 PM ***

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Anyway, I wouldn't have problems with beer being sold in sit-down restaurants or pub settings. But SF doesn't really make that clear by saying beer will be sold in various points throughout the park. Maybe their application says otherwise, but the opposition is making it sound like they're going to be tapping kegs on the ride platforms and in the queues, and the park is doing nothing to refute that.

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^ That is really all I am waiting for. If the park would tell its guests what its exact plans are and what rules would be set, I would deffinatly be more at ease...because I guess I don't mind if it is served in select sit-down restaurants and is only allowed in that designated area. I can deal with that just fine. I just don't want guests walking all around the park with it in their hands and in the lines as well as being served from carts.

Six Flags has already done that. They have clearly stated that they only plan to sell beer, even though the permit will allow sales of wine and liquor. They've stated it will only be in select locations in the park and they've stated that the service will be provided under very strict guidelines and proper controls. They've also stated that many of their current parks sell alcohol without any problems.

All of this has been printed in previous articles and most of these same items have been reiterated in the article linked above.

What more do you want Six Flags to do? I don't know if they've actually decided which restaurants will actually serve beer, but does it really make a difference? If they issued a press release that states they will only serve beer at Gator McGees and Cactus Cantina, how many of those filing complaints will actually know where those locations are in the park? Is it not sufficient to state "select locations?" Does anyone really believe they will be tapping kegs on ride platforms?

This should be a non-issue. I wish people would get their facts straight before they go whining to the park and/or the TABC.

*** This post was edited by Jeffrey Seifert 1/4/2008 10:39:32 AM ***

Tapping kegs on ride platforms? Sounds almost like good times at Oktoberfest in Munich and I didn't see any problems there :)

Ignoring the issues already brought up such as drunk people everywhere or doesn't seem to align with a family park atmosphere--one issue easily overlooked is that alcohol consumption plus intense rollercoasters and flat rides translates to the potential of more sick people in the park after riding under the influence, so to speak.

Add Texas summer heat to the equation, and it's even more of a bad idea just because water, not alcohol, is the best beverage to consume during the hotter summer months. Consumption of alcohol will actually contribute towards becoming dehydrated. Riding while dehydrated almost guarantees some degree of motion sickness will eventually occur.

For indirect proof of this, just look at what occurs at some at some carnivals or fairs when alcoholic beverages are consumed and then people go ride on spinning rides: even if they might have become sick from a particular ride's motions when completely sober, the consumption of alcohol prior to riding the same ride makes them sick even faster.

Why do you need indirect proof? Go to an amusement park that currently serves alcohol. Did you even notice?