In case you haven’t heard, this is all but a ‘done deal’.

Gulf Shores council set to vote on beer sales at Gulf State Park Pier

By law, alcohol has NOT been allowed on the pier since it was opened 44 years ago. And this prohibition was recently (in 2011) extended to other areas of the Gulf State Park and other state parks.  The pier has long touted its “Family Oriented” atmosphere, but one has to wonder how the inclusion of beer sales at the pier concession may influence that perception in the future. Also, why the quick flip-flop (in less than a year) on the issue by the Park Department and the DCNR?

This is one of those ‘push-button’ issues I have heard again and again over the years from anglers and other people on both sides. Some feel it would do irreputable harm to the pier and increase the likelihood of verbal and even physical altercations between inebriated anglers and/or walk-on visitors. They site similar altercations which have reportedly occured on the Florida Panhandle piers which allow alcoholic comsumption and sales. On the other hand some people (obviously including ’higher ups’ in the State Park Division and Department of Conservation) now believe that alcohol sales at the pier would be a good idea and revenue boost, and that the possibile negative affects or publicity is not an issue.

If this resolution is allowed to come into being unchallenged what assurance and protection does the public have that beer sales on the pier will not negatively impact the perception of it still being a “family oriented destination”? And what’s to keep other parks and venue’s from following suite? And what other park and pier regulations are subject to change?

Perhaps the prohibition on catching sharks could likewise be repealed

Pier#r