At a workshop last week, city officials and organizers of Tampa's annual Gasparilla parade pledged to come down hard on underage drinkers and inappropriate, drunken behavior. But council member John Dingfelder, a candidate for the Hillsborough County Commission, wants to take it even further. He said today he wants the opportunity to vote against allowing any beer sales at the event. Nonprofits sell alcohol along the parade route as a fundraising tool, and in the past, the council has voted on the temporary wet zonings. But that won't happen this year, because in 2008 the council changed city codes so that those requests are handled administratively. "I'm going to ask that they do come to us or that the administration turn them down," Dingfelder said. "I do love Gasparilla. I always have, since I was a little kid. I just want to make sure it's a family-friendly event."

Dingfelder, though, is likely facing an uphill battle on that one. Mayor Pam Iorio said she has no interest in stopping beer sales all together. "There is some good that comes out of the sale of beer on Gasparilla day. And that's the money that's raised for nonprofit activities," she said. Iorio said it's impossible to eliminate drinking from the festivities, and there's no point in punishing responsible drinkers. "There are many people who attend Gasparilla who might have one or two beers and are perfectly fine," she said. "They're not overdrinking and they're not acting foolish."

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

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