[paulandjean]

I think people fail to realize that its not just people drinking at the squares and driving there golf carts are the problem. Just drive at 8a.m. and you see all the bad driving habits.It happens all day long. Think people on this site just like to lump all the ill-behavior on those darn drinkers. I think we are old enough to know good behavior,and do not think this crackdown on golf cart people having a drink is the answer. Just think you can walk around with drink in hand all over the downtown streets.

[cappyjon431]

At first I thought, what's the big deal if someone sits in their cart and drinks? Then I had to ask myself, is it ok for someone to sit in their auto in a parking lot outside of a bar with an open container? In the second instance, I had to say "no," it is not ok.

I think the question has to be where do you draw the line? Open container laws have been on the books as long as I can remember. I never had a problem with these laws in the past, so why get upset that they choose to enforce them in TV now that I live here?

[RichieLion]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

At first I thought, what's the big deal if someone sits in their cart and drinks? Then I had to ask myself, is it ok for someone to sit in their auto in a parking lot outside of a bar with an open container? In the second instance, I had to say "no," it is not ok.

I think the question has to be where do you draw the line? Open container laws have been on the books as long as I can remember. I never had a problem with these laws in the past, so why get upset that they choose to enforce them in TV now that I live here?

Who's upset with it? It just should be clearly posted what is the limits of this law in this community of The Villages that allows you to drink on the streets unlike any town anywhere I've ever been it. It's clarity that's the issue here.

The boundaries of this allowable open container law is always changing. Is it just the boundaries of the sidewalk surrounding the square? Where is that posted?

When they have affairs in the square they sell alcohol in the street itself, for Pete's sake, and you're allowed to drink almost anywhere, it seems. Do they ever post information on where the boundaries are then? When Glenn Beck was here there was a beer truck past the square and across from Southern Lifestyles.

When someone is booked to speak, at say Barnes & Noble as Sen. Rubio was, the put up a bar kiosk and now that's a place for allowable open containers. Is there any postings on that exception and what the limits of that "open container boundary" is?

This thread devolved into a place for all the Carrie Nation's of TV to vent on their disproval of the devil's brew, and I'm half expecting them to come to the square with their brooms and hatchets.

I just want clarity. Is that too much to ask?

[graciegirl]

WHOA...................I think you are mistaken Richie Lion. No, I think you are wrong. I do not read anywhere on this thread where people said they are against drinking. Some are against drinking and driving with pretty good reason.. But enough with the Carrie Nation stuff.

Most are for following the rules, even when they find them difficult to understand.

[The Shadow]

Speaking of clarity, at the entrance to every round dee round a man in an orange vest should hand out flyers instructing people on how to navigate the round dee round.

The lady on the blowup raft in the pool, slip her a note, she does not have a clue, or it could be a case of the rules do not apply to me.

[Loveithere]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

Speaking of clarity, at the entrance to every round dee round a man in an orange vest should hand out flyers instructing people on how to navigate the round dee round.

The lady on the blowup raft in the pool, slip her a note, she does not have a clue, or it could be a case of the rules do not apply to me.

I bet you think everybody knows what your talking about.

[paulandjean]

I think I agree with richielion. Maybe is we did this it would be fair. So you can drink anywhere walking around the downtown area,but you cannot sit in your golf cart a few feet from the square, lets take away the chairs on the square for the people who drink,so we have all people standing that are drinking.

[Posh 08]

I think the focus is being put on golf carts because of accidents. It gets LEOs attention. Just in my short time on this board I have seen maybe 3 accidents reported. Key West allows alcohol in public in the Duvall area. I have no idea where that area ends. If you rent the electric cars, they'll nab you for drinking in them.

[robertj1954]

A few posters touched on the real issue in this thread, (Clarity). It is certainly not the law, the law is very clear. Drinking and operating a motor vehicle (golf carts) is wrong and a violation of the law, if you drink or are in possession of an open container with alcohol in your vehicle, you are violating the law. That is nothing new in Florida. 561 FS, 316.193, F.S. Local counties and municipalities have even tighter ordinances addressing alcohol consumption in public. (Lady Lakes)

The fogginess to many comes from being allowed to drink in the square and walk around the business area of the square with an alcoholic beverage. You are not being allowed to leave a business selling alcohol with a beverage. Florida law prohibits any establishment selling alcohol to allow customers to leave the premises with an open beverage. Most establishments will have that posted near the exit for clarification. A local governing body can designate through permitting a "Wet Zone" for the consumption of alcohol.

I would recommend those managing the squares post signs designating "Wet Zones (alcohol consumption permitted) along the perimeters of where it is permissible to consume alcohol. That will make violations enforceable and also give Villagers clarity on where you can and cannot consume alcohol.

If you went to see an attorney about the consumption issue with golf carts, he would probably advise the following: Bring your beverages and a lawn chair. Set up your lawn chair in front of your golf cart and pour/consume your beverages while in the lawn chair, not in the cart. It is a good bet you will not be cited for a violation. I'm just saying

[paulandjean]

We are just going over and over on this topic. Think This will spoil what we have at the squares. before long they will just ban carts and cars during the 5-9 entertain time.Do not want to see that. I enjoy sitting in the cart,people watching,listening to the music and having a nice cold one.Please non-drinkers leave us alone.

[Snowbirdtobe]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

We are just going over and over on this topic. Think This will spoil what we have at the squares. before long they will just ban carts and cars during the 5-9 entertain time.Do not want to see that. I enjoy sitting in the cart,people watching,listening to the music and having a nice cold one.Please non-drinkers leave us alone.

Many people feel the law doesn't apply to them.
I think that the post was a warning that the police were giving tickets for open container violations. Not a drinker/non-drinker issue.

[Loveithere]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

We are just going over and over on this topic. Think This will spoil what we have at the squares. before long they will just ban carts and cars during the 5-9 entertain time.Do not want to see that. I enjoy sitting in the cart,people watching,listening to the music and having a nice cold one.Please non-drinkers leave us alone.

I agree, but the cops know where the money is.

[mrfixit]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

..........THAT IS A BAD IDEA. I can just see it..........."Whats in that coke can you have in your hand" We are going to do a few test on you, touch your nose with your forefinger sir. GET REAL.

......Please......Don't tase me Bro.......

[Loveithere]

Originally Posted by mrfixit

......Please......Don't tase me Bro.......

I had forgotten about that video.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

We are just going over and over on this topic. Think This will spoil what we have at the squares. before long they will just ban carts and cars during the 5-9 entertain time.Do not want to see that. I enjoy sitting in the cart,people watching,listening to the music and having a nice cold one.Please non-drinkers leave us alone.

Paul and Jean.

I say the same thing to you I said to Richie Lion. There is not one single post on this thread that said anything against drinking. Several are against drinking and driving. The original poster seemed to want to give us all a heads up because they are ticketing people at the squares for open containers.

I don't see the natural progression of that as spoiling what we have at the squares or banning carts during the 5-9 entertainment time.

No one is trying to ban alcohol on this thread.

Your homework class is to read this thread from beginning to end and find any post that says that the poster is against drinking. Winner gets one of my homemade cherry pies.

There is one that says he doesn't drink anymore. And many like me who don't like drinking and driving.

I also know that some of us don't drink because of the medications that we are on. And some may not drink for religious or ethical reasons too, but I do NOT see any posts from them on this thread. Nothing, not one post on this thread against drinking booze in general, for Pete's sake.

So Paul and Jean, Party on. You are preaching to the chior here.....

Gracie, daughter and granddaughter of brewmasters.