Arkansas expands alcohol license for Magic Springs, despite opposition

As usual, the comments on the news site are hilarious. Do people really grow up in "families" that never have beer and wine around? I can't think of any Christmas or barbecue that didn't involve adult beverages, ever

Now Jeff, you know in the South it is all smoke-and-mirrors; it doesn't matter what happens in their own homes, it is about controlling what everybody else does in theirs. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't be sexual, don't have impure thoughts....but hey, Auntie Mable and Uncle John are having a beer bong party Saturday night!

I remember when Busch Gardens handed out free beer samples at the end of the brewery tour. Yeah, I know it was not much bigger than a shot, but the point is, they used to give booze away and sell it, and I don't recall ever seeing anyone intoxicated in the park. In fact, I can probably count the number of guests I've seen that have had too much to drink--in any park--on the fingers of one hand and still have a finger or two left over.

The dude in the recent video at DCA is the extremest of rare exceptions, not the rule. This ruling isn't going to result in the park being overrun by a surge of s***faced alcoholics.

Actually, when you put it that way, I too can only recall a handful of outwardly drunk people at all parks, in my lifetime. I would think it would be more just because people are people.

Jeff said:
Do people really grow up in "families" that never have beer and wine around?

Yes. And they're not all anti-alcohol, either. Many just don't partake.

Personally, I can't think of any family gatherings that included adult beverages but nobody in my family goes around trying to stop others from drinking, either.

Great news for AMP!

I just love the notion that "I disagree with drinking alcohol, so I have the right to demand that you also abstain." Ummm, no you don't?

Jeff said:
As usual, the comments on the news site are hilarious. Do people really grow up in "families" that never have beer and wine around? I can't think of any Christmas or barbecue that didn't involve adult beverages, ever

You always say that and I usually bite my tongue.

But I can say with certainty that alcohol was a very small part of my family's general lifestyle. There were usually a few liquor bottles in a cabinet for the rare occasion, but even those seemed to disappear over time. At holiday gatherings, it wasn't real prevalent either. The times I sawe it most were more friendly get-togethers...or as you put it, barbeque scenarios. But that wasn't a huge part of our lives. I can count on one hand (maybe two) the number of situations like that. I couldn't have snuck alcohol as a kid if I wanted to unless I went to friend's houses.

And while I think more drugs than just alcohol should be legal (a lot more...don't get me started on the hypocrisy) and I have the occasional drink(s) when we go out, there's not an ounce of liquor to be found in our home. We don't drink it regularly, we don't have people over in situations where it's part of things. It's not a bigpart of our lives.

I'm not claiming to be the majority or even that the comments aren't full of crap, but it doesn't really faze me. I personally don't equate 'family' situations to situations wihere there's alcohol either. I feel a little awkward having even one beer around my kids. Two different worlds in my mind.

With all of that said, I couldn't care less if the park wants to serve alcohol. Good for them.

My point is more the general assertion that these idiots make that families don't consume alcohol, or that it's anti-family. That's asinine.

As an alcoholic (recovering/sober) I can say that if I want to get drunk while visiting a park, I will. I sure ain't paying all that money for park booze, I would have my own on me/in the car.

There is no reason why non-alcoholics shouldn't be able to enjoy a drink or two.

Nah, then you end up getting sick on the rides. I prefer to get hammered when I get back to the hotel room.

Non-recovering alcoholics can have fun too!

Jeff said:
Do people really grow up in "families" that never have beer and wine around?

I did. My mom about fainted when I finally got my own place and she came over and saw the fridge. Glad she didn't find the liquor cabinet. :)

I agree with the general consensus of don't partake if you don't like it, but don't force your views on others. Of course, that attitude applies to so much more than just alcohol.

My park went through the same thing about 7 years ago when we first proposed selling alcohol in our park. Same deal….city council meetings, news coverage, community members in an uproar, helicopters flying overhead, kids will be drunk, what is the world coming to, all heck will break loose…..

7 years later, we now responsibly offer alcohol in three different areas and I can count on one hand the number of issues we have had. We have more problems with guests sneaking in their own booze than the ones who consume ours.

And I think that's why places like Universal Orlando can sell in such volume. Even with volume, the problems you think you might have don't materialize. Granted, UO has a small army of security people, which I'm sure keeps people in line.