Thread: No Beer on the PIer

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20877#msg20877 date=1352166359]
I dont know... I feel bad for the ones that wanted it. The more I think about Navarre and their setup with the bar and grill, the more I am open to the idea.

I even found myself defending the idea to my wife. She saw it on the news and was like, "You're not going to keep taking the boys down there are you?" And I was like, "Navarre sells beer and we fish there all the time." Then I was like "wait, did I just defend the bar?"

Can anyone cite an incident that took place at Navarre because of drinking and fishing? I have never seen any.

Is the grill still going to open?

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Iv never seen one at Navarre or pcola

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20877#msg20877 date=1352166359]
Can anyone cite an incident that took place at Navarre because of drinking and fishing? I have never seen any.[/quote]

Bubba, I'm from out of town. (googan) So take this for what it's worth. I've fished Navarre a half dozen times this year. I've never had any trouble in the morning, but about mid afternoon when it gets hot and folks have been hitting the suds hard, I've had several run ins and seen several more happen. Granted, when there is an altercation with someone who has been drinking, the sober person will see it as far worse than the person under the influence does. When someone drinks beer in the heat, its effects are enhanced, and everybody seems to think they are handling their buzz way better than they really are.

I know I'm not the best fishermen, and sometimes I don't cast as accurately as I should. I get excited when I hook a king, and sometimes I bump into people and sometimes I bump into their rods or move them out of the way. Anyone who has fished Navarre knows that dancing around all the rods leaning against the rail is a part of the experience. When you are from out of town, the regulars don't always have as much patience with you as they seem to have for other regulars, and I understand that.

With all that said, there's no doubt that alcohol plays a part in a lot of the mid-to-late-afternoon problems I've seen happen at the piers -- Navarre, Pcola, Pcity and unfortunately Gulf Shores, too.

It won't keep me from coming back, but it has been a major annoyance to me a few times, and the drunk people dropping the F-bombs in front of all the sight-seeing families out there that time of day is really out of place.

It's not just the people drinking who drop the F bombs at the GSP, I hear it too often.

[quote author=Rich1 link=topic=2253.msg20908#msg20908 date=1352207014]
[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20877#msg20877 date=1352166359]
Can anyone cite an incident that took place at Navarre because of drinking and fishing? I have never seen any.[/quote]

Bubba, I'm from out of town. (googan) So take this for what it's worth. I've fished Navarre a half dozen times this year. I've never had any trouble in the morning, but about mid afternoon when it gets hot and folks have been hitting the suds hard, I've had several run ins and seen several more happen. Granted, when there is an altercation with someone who has been drinking, the sober person will see it as far worse than the person under the influence does. When someone drinks beer in the heat, its effects are enhanced, and everybody seems to think they are handling their buzz way better than they really are.

I know I'm not the best fishermen, and sometimes I don't cast as accurately as I should. I get excited when I hook a king, and sometimes I bump into people and sometimes I bump into their rods or move them out of the way. Anyone who has fished Navarre knows that dancing around all the rods leaning against the rail is a part of the experience. When you are from out of town, the regulars don't always have as much patience with you as they seem to have for other regulars, and I understand that.

With all that said, there's no doubt that alcohol plays a part in a lot of the mid-to-late-afternoon problems I've seen happen at the piers -- Navarre, Pcola, Pcity and unfortunately Gulf Shores, too.

It won't keep me from coming back, but it has been a major annoyance to me a few times, and the drunk people dropping the F-bombs in front of all the sight-seeing families out there that time of day is really out of place.
[/quote]

I dont know. I just dont see it. When we go to Navarre we stay all day. I would dare say that I have seen far fewer altercations on Navarre than I have at the State Pier, even with the alcohol.

I think Gulf Shores needs to educate people on why it would be okay. When my wife heard it on the news, she was against it until I informed her about Navarre. Then she was completely fine with it. She didnt even know Navarre served alcohol.

The news stories on the matter leaned to "it should be allowed." Seeing how it was proposed with not allowing it past the gate doesnt seem like a problem. At that point, is it really no different than people walking a few extra steps to their cars to drink?

I would have a HUGE problem if it was allowed on the pier, which is how it sounded when first proposed.

I don't drink (anymore) and don't care for drunks, but if it was only at the proposed Grill and not on the pier... Have at it.

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20910#msg20910 date=1352210010]
I dont know. I just dont see it. When we go to Navarre we stay all day. I would dare say that I have seen far fewer altercations on Navarre than I have at the State Pier, even with the alcohol.[/quote]

Agreed. In my case, that would probably be because I fish the State Pier a lot more. Also it seems to be generally more crowded than Navarre.

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20910#msg20910 date=1352210010]
I think Gulf Shores needs to educate people on why it would be okay. When my wife heard it on the news, she was against it until I informed her about Navarre. Then she was completely fine with it. She didnt even know Navarre served alcohol.

The news stories on the matter leaned to "it should be allowed." Seeing how it was proposed with not allowing it past the gate doesnt seem like a problem. At that point, is it really no different than people walking a few extra steps to their cars to drink?

I would have a HUGE problem if it was allowed on the pier, which is how it sounded when first proposed.
[/quote]

You make a lot of sense, Bubba. I guess having a problem with people who have been drinking depends a lot on who shows up on a given day. With the constant influx of guests, you just never know what you are going to get. Still, regardless of what they do with this issue I'm going to keep driving down and fishing whenever my time and budget will allow it.

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt] Now that the city said no beer sales, wonder if the park will say no more fireworks? Just sayin’ :evil:

I guess I wasn’t as opposed to the beer sales as I thought, I forgot about the public hearing and didn’t make it.

Rich, if you dont mind me asking, what type of run ins did you see?Was it a shhouting match, a fist fight, somebody pull a knife or get thrown over the rail?

I have fished both a pretty good bit, i've never seen any thing too bad happen

[quote author=Peaches link=topic=2253.msg20905#msg20905 date=1352199436]
[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20877#msg20877 date=135216635]
Can anyone cite an incident that took place at Navarre because of drinking and fishing? I have never seen any.
[/quote]

Iv never seen one at Navarre or pcola
[/quote]

Though you may have never witnessed any bonafide incidents, there has been and will continue to be several cases of sober fishermen being intimidated or otherwise annoyed by pier drunkards.

[quote author=Bubba]I would dare say that I have seen far fewer altercations on Navarre than I have at the State Pier, even with the alcohol. [/quote]
That is due to the fact that the State Pier is too tolerant of googans on the end off the pier. The Florida piers make it more difficult for a googan to fish among the in the first place, therefore things don't build to a head. That and the fact that they have far fewer googans that are wanting to become Zane Grey on their first time fishing in the ''ocean''.

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2253.msg20910#msg20910 date=1352210010]
Seeing how it was proposed with not allowing it past the gate doesn't seem like a problem. At that point, is it really no different than people walking a few extra steps to their cars to drink?

I would have a HUGE problem if it was allowed on the pier, which is how it sounded when first proposed.
[/quote]
I realize that perhaps I am out of place here. I lived in GS in the late 80's, grew up in Mobile and fished the old pier for many, many hours through the years. I think more than the presence of beer, what people are worried about will be the effect of the added alcohol. That being said, beer at the 'gate' or on the pier really doesn't make much difference other than perhaps slowing down someone drinking just a little by them having to walk back to the gate.
The bottom line for the city, state, and people in general is what is most important. Why do we go to the pier? To fish, to socialize, to drink? There may be different answers for each one but as far as I'm concerned, I will be much less likely to bring my kids to the pier when I'm back in GS if drinking is permitted and/or available there. Last year on the pier I almost got hooked by someone else's carelessness and trust me I was being careful. I know to be careful. Not to mention the alcohol inspired courage and anger. I just don't want to subject my kids to that if I can help it. I know that there will be arguments and even fights without alcohol but I sincerely believe that whenever you mix in alcohol there will be more and worse problems.
That is my opinion and it may differ from yours.