Adult beverages have long been a popular item at amusement parks and some theme parks. Cold beer and other drinks are often seen as a great way to beat the heat on a hot summer day and to help relax and enjoy a day off from work.
	For the 2004 season, Great Adventure chose to put the sales of alcohol front and center with the addition of the Liberty Pub next to the Pizza Parlor to increase the sales of beer and wine. The Pizza Parlor had sold beer and wine as early as when it was built, but through a window counter facing away from the high traffic pathways. The new Liberty Pub was simple, but made the highly profitable sales of adult beverages more visible to guests. The small bar featured a walk up counter for service complete with neon bar style beer promotional signs. While the pub was on the main pathway, drinks still had to be consumed on the adjoining patio, the same way drinks were sold previously through the Pizza Parlor's beer counter.
	The rear side of the Pub offered seating in the patio and additional tables and stools were added to increase the capacity. The covered patio area offered a great place to sit and relax and beat the heat with a cold beverage on hot summer days. The sale of alcohol in theme parks, and particularly Great Adventure, has been controversial. For a time in the late 1980's and early 1990's the park discontinued beer sales except for special events in an effort to promote a more family-oriented atmosphere. Beer is a hugely profitable product in theme parks, and many parks have sold beer and wine (and sometimes hard liquor) with few issues. The changes in ownership and management over time changed the priorities and brought back a push to sell more drinks.
	Over time the patio area added TV screens to show sports and essentially create a sports bar in the park for those who didn't find the rides entertaining enough. Sports bars in theme parks were a trend for a while in the 2000's when the Six Flags chain was owned by Red Zone. The Pub was successful in driving sales so the company looked to continue that path for future seasons.  Since the introduction of the Liberty Pub several additional alcoholic drink outlets have been added.
From the start, the Liberty Pub was a success and it was soon realized the facility was rather low capacity for the amount of patrons of the stand.  After the end of the 2017 season, the Liberty Pub was removed and ultimately replaced by a much larger and upgraded pour house.  The Ale House made its debut in the summer of 2018.
Original Spotlight:  February 21, 2023.  GAH Reference#:  FOOD-2004-001
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