Zoos and aquariums have never been shy about jumping into the holidays, and Oktoberfest is no exception. Some zoos hold OktoBEARfest, or CROCtoberfest, or any of the other animal puns which our marketing teams are drawn to like flies towards our poop-caked work boots. Nor is the festivity limited to October. Many zoos offer alcohol-themed events, such as beer or wine festivals, throughout the year. An increasing number of facilities sell beer as part of their regular concessions. I remember being scandalized as a middle-school age kid visiting SeaWorld San Diego decades ago when I saw people walking around the exhibits with beers. I told myself that it was because SeaWorld was also a theme park, not a typical zoo or aquarium. These days, I feel like it's the rare zoo that doesn't have some alcoholic options. On a recent visit to the San Diego Zoo, members of my group had booze throughout the day-long excursion, from Irish coffee first thing in the morning to a margarita on the way out the gate that night.
Photo Credit: Smithsonian National Zoo
Now, Americans are known for their somewhat puritanical take on such things, and I'm a non-drinker myself, so it took me a little while to step back and ask - is this actually a problem?
Short answer I've settled on is - it could be. But probably not.
When we think of alcohol, we tend to think of drunkenness and all of the shenanigans that go with it. We envision loud, rowdy drunk patrons, visitors getting handsy with staff (and possibly winding up with a pitchfork in the eye as a result), or, worst case scenario, some drunk patron toppling over the moat into an exhibit. What could possibly make the experience of working the zoo more stressful than having drunk, unruly visitors? Unless, of course, they were drunk, unruly, and armed, which is an entirely separate issue that zoos in some states have to worry about. Other concerns are less about safety than about image. Those of us who work in zoos like to think of ourselves working towards the higher goals of the institution - conservation, education, research, inspiration. Selling beer makes it feel more like a sports stadium or amusement park, which, to be fair, is home some people see us.
On day to day operations, though, alcohol is sold basically as a concession. It's not a bar. No one is sitting by the snack bar downing beer after beer, so it's unlikely anyone is actually getting loaded (especially at the prices we charge). Staff can cut visitors off, and we do have security on grounds, of course. Serving a little beer and wine not only generates a little more revenue for the zoo, it can also help attract an age demographic that we might not see as much of otherwise.
Beer and wine festivals are a little different, since there the focus is more on the booze as a main feature rather than simply as a beverage option alongside soda or coffee. These events don't just happen as a free-for-all, however. Servings are limited and monitored, staff are on hand to address possible behavioral problems. Such events can be major fundraisers for zoos and aquariums, helping to channel monies into animal care programs or field conservation.
My own attitudes about alcohol in zoos have softened considerably since my first initial shock at smelling spilled beer outside Shamu Stadium. Now, I see beer festivals and the like as a vital part of our fundraising effort to help support and grow the zoo. Under some circumstances, alcohol companies can be major sponsors of zoos, such as the St. Louis Zoo, which has benefited mightily over the years from the patronage of Anheuser-Busch.
In other cases, alcohol might even dovetail with the zoo's educational message. The Louisville Zoo has recently announced that they are planning a major new exhibit of Kentucky wildlife. One planned feature of the new complex? An exhibit on bourbon.
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