Thread: Say it ain't so...Beer sales at the Pier?

I'm sure I'll hear it for this one but here it goes.

First, I'm sure the council or mayor or whomever didn't just come up with this idea on their own. Whether it is a money thing or peoples request, the idea had to come from somewhere.

Second, there's plenty of public establishments that serve alcohol and are ran successfully. Again, it's the pier management and staff that should be enforcing the rules, alcohol or not!

Last, GS and OBA are a tourist destination, people come to spend money and enjoy theirselves. Not saying they all drink but some do.

Me personally, I enjoy drinking a few beers while I fish. I couldn't do at the pier due to having to drive home, but there's been a few times when it's been those hot summer days that I wished I had a cold one.

+++++++1 P&G

The key to changing this decision, which sounds like a done deal in the article at the top of the post, is a clear discussion of enforcement and liability.

The management of the pier on a daily basis is aided immensely by the very real fact that the regulars take a great deal of ownership of "their" pier. How many posts are in this forum where one of these regulars steps in to chastise bad or unsafe behavior, and eliminates a problem of enforcement before it becomes an issue? Unattended children, thievery, sanitation, human conflicts over space at the rail, and so on? The city is lucky, right now, that the dynamics beyond the gate are managed by mostly sober individuals that care about their pier every day. Enforcement by pier staff is minimal right now because there IS an etiquette of behavior that is enforced by their patrons who use it. The city doesn't know this and takes behavior and ENFORCEMENT for granted because they have not had to spend money to do so.

The liability for the city, having inebriated citizens accessing the pier with the city's implied blessing, would rise immediately and immensely. Again, no one has had to report a drunk frat boy jumping from the pier, or a fight breaking out over someone's perceived slight at a rail for encroaching or blocking someone who is walking a fish. Adding the accepted use of alcohol by the city, again without direct enforcement by staff, would severely increase the city's LIABILITY. Again, right now, they rarely have to intervene so there is no money trail. No cost is seen in the books so there must not be any cost to the city. And no publicity from a negative incident means it's all good. That is how politicians think.

I know the first time my wife saw some drunk aggressively reeling in a sea bird they sky-hooked and were not trying to prevent damage to the bird, she would have her 5 foot frame all over the person with her 7 foot Ugly Stick.

The city needs to be challenged in public over the pitfalls of this decision. The regulars at the pier are an unknown quantity that has protected them from much of what they are about to open with this seemingly easy decision. They are about the $$$$$ just like someone said early in the posts. But the potential for $$$$$ going out from the city's coffers are much greater with this decision.

If the drinking could be limited to one or two beers, no problem, but there are quite a few people who can't or won't stop there. I'm not against drinking, but there are circumstances on the pier that make it undesirable there.

Gotcha plugs, sabikis and beer - what more could you ask for?

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2213.msg20597#msg20597 date=1351683687]
Gotcha plugs, sabikis and beer - what more could you ask for?
[/quote]

Dial 911 ;-)

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=2213.msg20597#msg20597 date=1351683687]
Gotcha plugs, sabikis and beer - what more could you ask for?
[/quote]
throw in a gaff with dangling rope and serious injuries would occur ....although it seems to be working on other piers with NO real problems....for me that always stood Gulf Shores apart from the others....

I am an occasional visitor.... but on my limited time on the rock have seen several incidents that could have propelled out of control if it wasn't for the regulars putting a quick STOP to it....and very much appreciated by me....I will deal with it no matter what the outcome on there decision as to alcohol on the pier......I just know some can't handle liquid courage

Just something i was thinking so many people say they wont go whats the diff in going out to eat where they serve booze and fishing with booze really thats all people do when they come down i worked a condos at P10 beside the flora bama and thats what they do frim the time they wake up not saying all people do it but 90% of them did nothing funny then seeing 2 snowbirds getting crunk fishing lol i dont care to see it but just taking both sides

They say the beer thing is a done deal, so I removed my post. It was too long anyway.

So Party! uke:

I won't stop fishing the pier. Just wish the State would solve problems instead of making more.

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Here’s the city’s response on facebook regarding the location of the public hearing on Monday Nov. 5, 2012 at 5:00PM
City of Gulf Shores: “The public hearing will be held in the City Council chambers at City Hall.”
Read and add to the fb comments.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/cityofgulfshoresal/posts/499951833371632?notif_t=feed_comment