illdrinktothat - You are missing the point entirely. Woodmans calls their liqueur store the HOB because saying "liqueur" over the intercom sounds unprofessional or too harsh. People that have worked there 30+ years tell me this. Its not a huge secret, my point was society thinks alcohol is bad...especially the older people. They were brainwashed at a young age.

And really Sigma...you are such a zero... I am only throwing this out there because there is nothing interesting on TV.

Tinfoil Alert to...tthompson,jocose,connim,and gray_ghost,....my wife and I just got home from a weekly summer event from our neighbors to the South.
It's called Music at Harry's Place.
Held at Riverside Park. They have local vendors selling alcohol, and food. This has been going on for many years.
And you know what is really appalling? They actually allow kids AND pets in the same vicinity that adults are consuming alcohol.

AND...to make matters worse...there is no orange snow fence to separate the righteous from the damned.

I have been attending...and spending my money...for at least seven years...expecting to confirm the demise of society as echoed by the doomsday prophets listed above...but perhaps it will occur next year? I will again be in attendance to witness this once again non-occurrence.

Get a life people....

And grow up Janesville.

Sigma...please tell us how you know this is a fact. Because, the fact is...unless you are at least 50 years old ...and can remember when the first House of Bacchus was established ...you don't know Jack.

Where was the first HOB?

yes, its a legal product.

leaderofthepack - the reason they call it that is because it doesnt sound bad. I know this for a fact. Tells you right there the older society is afraid of alcohol. Also ...Usually the more religious people are the more they are against it...brainwashed.

I just can't imagine anything worse than people sitting and enjoying the outdoors while drinking a beer(sarcasm intended). What are we really worried about here? Been to the Bier garten at Estabrook park in Milwaukee and everybody sat in groups with friends, chatting and enjoying the beautiful day. Nobody was lurching about, yelling, accosting innocent families. Heck, they don't even fence in the area (gasp!) If somebody is going to drink and drive, they can do it at any bar in town, so that is not a legimate excuse. If the city is seriously considering it, I recommend they go to Estabrook and model something here after it.

No Sigma, they call it House of Bacchus becasue Bacchus was the greek god of the grape or winemaking, hence, the House of Bacchus, get it? Duh.

I agree bloggers like yourself always try to blather rather than attempt to explain your views intelligently. So far it seems the places that are allowed to server beer don't seem to attract the "paranoid extremists" that you blather about.

I see no issues. I have taken a margarita in the park before. Could you tell? Guess what nobody even knew it. So I guess there isn't really a problem huh?

"That way they can learn first hand about drinking, getting stupid, laughing and screaming and swearing for no apparent reason, squealing their tires, littering, and destroying propert"

I hear this all of the time. It is called "trash" and those have no respect for anybody in their range. It has NOTHING to do with alcohol.

Because most people are paranoid extremists. Duh. They are scared of stuff. Woodmans calls their liquer store the "house of bacchus" because they are affraid saying liquer over the intercom. Geez. People need to get to 2012. Its not 1940 anymore.

Why is it that when people on this forum post they need to go to an extreme to try to make a point? There was a fear of public intoxication at the Jets hockey games when they came forward to request beer sales at the ice arena, but from what I have seen and heard that isn't the case. There was a sense of urgency when the city asked to have beer sales on the golf courses, and again, it seems like there isn't an issue. Same goes for the "beer gardens" that have been constructed for smoking clients of bars. I would rather see a government that's less restrictive that doesn't act like a mother hen. Are there going to be incidents of some people abusing the privilege? Sure, it'll happen, just like it happens today even without it being legal. It just so happens that I would rather people be free to make decisions, good or bad, rather than big brother dictating to us what we can and can't do in this instance.

Permits? Why would we have to buy permits for something that is already heavily taxed? All this is just for paranoid people. These paranoids are probably still scared of the Germans, the Japanese, and any other country we been at war with. Probably scared of their own shadows. Why should the responsible part of society have to suffer from their psychological problems of paranoia? The majority of society does not need to be babysat so much like people think. Are we not civilized? People can carry a fork and a knife to a park on a picnic with no permit.. Why not a beer?

jocose: Good post. Meanwhile peeps in Jville, Milton, and Edgerton can NOT teach their kids about raising their own food because to many people don't want chickens in their NEIGHBORS back yard. SMH

How much are the permits? That is the only issue I see as problematic. For that matter, what does it cost to use the pavilions?

Sure! Let's give drinking a thumbs-up in parks where little kids go to swing, slide, play Frisbee, have a picnic and other-wise do innocent kid stuff. That way they can learn first hand about drinking, getting stupid, laughing and screaming and swearing for no apparent reason, squealing their tires, littering, and destroying property. Educate them on what it's like being typical Wisconsinites. It will encourage them to practice while they are still adolescents. I feel it will desensitize them and give them the wrong impression of proper behavior in public places. Of course I am not implying that all drinkers are uncivilized. But those few who are will make lasting impressions on our little ones. Horrible idea!

As much as I'm hoping Wisconsin can find some way to heal our deadly drinking culture, I have to agree that if most other cities have this and it presents few problems, that's likely the key point here.

Yes.

Other cities have been doing it for years without problems.

Time for Janesville to treat the majority of citizens as the responsible adults that they are.

No do not allow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course. This is 'merica and what could go wrong by serving alcohol at a family event that most people will drive to??

it will cause more problems than it worth. the jpd has enough to do without babysitting for the park system.

If there is no problem with serving liquor at parks why should there be a permit ? Why should bars have to have a license ? Why should it be against the law to drink while driving as long as you are not drunk ? Why can't you walk down the street with a beer as you would drinking a coke ? There must be a reason for all of this, the same as there has been a reason all of the years for not having alcohol at parks.

I think it should just be a check box on the permit. "[Y] [N] Will alcohol be served?". By checking "Yes" you agree that you will be responsible for any costs incurred if the police have to be called. The city shouldn't be in the business of making money on drugs, you know ;-)
I'm just sayin'...