AUSTIN (KXAN) – The booze is flowing in Austin and not just at the party venues.

South-By-Southwest and St. Patrick’s Day festivities are synonymous with alcohol consumption but the Gabrielle Nestande trial and the recent arrest of Representative Naomi Gonzalez also are showing light on a culture of drinking during the legislative session.

That culture reared its head in a campaign ad used against Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton last year.

Gonzalez’s arrest was one of 188 made by APD since the SXSW festival, a celebration chalk full of open bar parties, began.

Chuck Robledo is a native who also works on Sixth Street and believes drinking is fine as long as you bring your responsibility with you.

“There are plenty of cabs and if you are not doing it the right way, then just stay at home. It is cheaper anyway.”

Alcohol sales were up to $67 million in 2012 from $58 million in 2011.

The tax allocation to the city has nearly doubled from the year 2000 when it was just more than $3 million.