ARLINGTON -- Opponents of alcohol sales at Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor got a chance to make their cases starting this morning.

A two-day protest hearing began at 10 a.m. at the Hotel Trinity InnSuites in Fort Worth. A state administrative law judge is presiding. Fewer than 20 people signed up to speak, but about 40 people attended this morning.

The two Arlington theme parks -- Hurricane Harbor is owned by Six Flags -- applied for mixed beverage permits in January. They have since been met with vocal criticism from residents who said that alcohol and amusement park rides don’t mix. Opponents said they were worried about underage drinking, public intoxication and violence fueled by booze consumption.

In an interview before testimony began, Gil Holt, 78, a retired Indiana state trooper who lives in Bedford, said he spent weeks gathering signatures from more than 1,200 people opposed to the alcohol sales. He said he never encountered anyone in favor of the proposal.

He said his main concern was that parent would drink at the amusement parks then drive their children home.

"I hear the children crying out for help," said Mr. Holt, 78. "These children need someone sober to get them home."

Eddy Parker, 76, of Colleyville, said allowing alcohol at the parks would expose children to more alcohol advertisements. He also expressed concern that police wouldn't be able to protect park visitors from people who have been drinking.

"They can't protect us on the streets. What makes them think they can protect us in that park?" he said.

Roger Hollar, the executive director of Mercy Heart, a ministry for families of prison inmates, said selling alcohol at an amusement park simply creates one more avenue for people to drink.

"It's not the place for alcohol consumption," he said.

Six Flags officials provided a written statement before the hearing and declined to comment further.

“For quite some time, many of our Guests, including Moms and Dads, have requested beer as an option while dining in the park,” the statement said. “The serving of beer will be handled responsibly, just like every aspect of our business; it will only be offered in select, well-monitored locations and served in specially marked cups by TABC certified staff.”

After the hearing, the judge will have up to 60 days to issue a “proposal for decision.” Additional procedures to give both sides time to respond could extend that.

The ultimate decision will be made by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission administrator.

Alcohol is sold at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld, both in San Antonio, as well as three water parks. Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston had beer and wine permits before it closed, and Hurricane Harbor’s predecessor, Wet ‘n Wild, had a beer license for about a decade.

Carolyn Mitchell, a Burleson resident, said today she came to speak out against the proposal after being stuck in line in front of two people who were drinking alcohol and intoxicated during a trip to the Fiesta Texas park.

“I hope their marketing slogan wouldn’t be 'beer and Bugs Bunny, a day of entertainment,'” Ms. Mitchell said.