TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Alcohol Sales Can Expand At Busch Parks

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

TAMPA - The city council agreed Thursday to allow Busch Gardens and Adventure Island to expand their alcohol sales.

The theme parks will be allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor at special events, defined as government, corporate, convention, fundraising, performing arts and cultural events. Beer, wine and liquor also can now be sold at receptions held at the park for invited guests only, such as a birthday party or anniversary dinner.

The council's decision comes about a month after the board told Busch Gardens representatives they were reluctant to allow the theme park to sell beer, wine and liquor throughout the park grounds with no restrictions.
City council members said they relented after tweaking the ordinance allowing the sales to make it more difficult for the park to sell alcohol throughout the grounds on a regular basis.

'We've come a real long way from where we were a month ago,' Councilman John Dingfelder said.
Liquor sales will not be permitted after 11 p.m. Beer and wine sales will not be permitted after 1 a.m.
Alcohol sales will continue at Crown Colony House and Desert Grill, two restaurants at the theme park.

The council voted 4-1 to approve the measure. Gwen Miller and Tom Scott were not in the chamber during the vote. Councilwoman Mary Mulhern voted against it, concerned about the potential for increased drunken driving. She also was concerned the parks would lose their family-friendly atmosphere.

Tampa police Officer Don Miller told the council his research turned up only about 10 alcohol-related incidents in the area surrounding the theme park in the past three years.

The Busch Gardens proposal had a different outcome than a proposal the council considered recently to expand alcohol sales at Raymond James Stadium.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had wanted to sell mixed drinks in general-seating areas.

Under the existing rules, mixed drinks only can be sold in a few areas, such as club seats.

Initially, the council approved the stadium's request but later reversed its decision. Council members said they were concerned increased alcohol sales at the stadium would result in more alcohol-related incidents.

Tampa police had told the council during the stadium debate that the department had responded to 192 incidents at the stadium, 48 percent of which involved alcohol.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT