The Greensboro City Council will consider an ordinance that could remarkably alter the vibe in downtown Greensboro at the Tuesday, Dec. 21 meeting.
The ordinance, made possible by new state statutes, has not been previously discussed at a City Council meeting or work session, although they may have been discussed by city councilmembers in small group meetings, which are not subject to the North Carolina Open Meetings Law and is the preferred method of doing business for the current City Council.
The ordinance on the agenda for the Dec. 21 meeting will create a “Social District” beginning March 1 in downtown Greensboro, where people will be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages – beer, wine, fortified wine and mixed drinks – purchased from a business with an on-premises alcohol consumption license, while walking around in the defined “Social District.” (See map above.)
In short, this ordinance allows people to buy the alcoholic beverage of their choice from a bar or restaurant and walk around the Social District while consuming that beverage during the hours of noon to 9 p.m.
There are some quirky components to the proposed ordinance. The alcoholic beverage container must clearly display the business from which the beverage was purchased as well as “a logo or some other mark that is unique to the Downtown Greensboro Social District.” The container must also display “in no less than 12-point font, the statement, “Drink Responsibly – Be 21,” can be no larger than 16 fluid ounces and cannot be glass.
Although people are allowed to walk around the Social District with an alcoholic beverage in such a container, people are not allowed to enter the premises of a bar or restaurant with an alcoholic beverage purchased at a different bar or restaurant.
However, with an alcoholic beverage in an approved container, a person is allowed to enter a retail establishment that does not have an alcohol license, with the permission of that business. So, people would be allowed to purchase an alcoholic beverage and consume it as they shop in the Social District.
People can walk around the Social District with an alcoholic beverage in an approved container but they cannot leave the Social District with that beverage.
LOL, now trying to be like New Orleans. I guess got tired of trying to be like Charlotte and or Raleigh. .
No one has ever tried to be like either of those cities we are the third largest city in the state we have our own identity
Just what we need, more trash (drunks and garbage on the sidewalk). This needs no thought to say “NO!”
Exactly! It’s a disaster before it begins.
ABSOLUTELY love this idea
Great idea. More access and convenience for the alcohol imbibers, may help bring more business to Greensboro. Promoting easier access to alcohol may be an incentive to the community to participate as they will not have to stop, find a bar (which is really not difficult in this city), stay in that location to finish the drink before continuing their way to wherever they are going. A supporter has suggested that we require the corner beggars to earn their space on the street by selling these cups of alcohol to drivers as they pass the intersections. That way they can help earn their keep, assist drivers with their time so as not to stop at a bar or store on the way home, not have to try to find a parking place at a bar. BEST OF ALL – promoting new business-the increased demand for AA, physicians, hospitals,insurance companies, funeral directors, cemetarys, will BOOM.AND, setting a goal for future generations by encouraging them that alcohol is the way to fun, economy for the city and convenient.
By the way, can a shop owner be sued if denies a potential customer the freedom to enter the store with a beverage, especially if it is alcohol? If an inebriated visitor spills their drink on merchandise or falls and breaks a counter while there, will insurance cover the damage?
The submitted was NOT an ad, but a Letter to the Readership
Who in the world thinks this is a good idea? So you have an “approved” cup. What’s to stop anyone from refreshing their “cup” from a flask at the bottom of a backpack? We already have problems downtown. What the heck could possibly go wrong and just who is going to be responsible when it does?
Liberals run Greensboro so there will be no accountability when it makes the bad situation of downtown even worse.
better get some porta potties strategically located.
jimMy shoot no if we provide that Ms. Vaughn will not achieve her goal of being the new and improved Pelosi.
No need they will just use the street and the buildings and your car.
Fortified wine?
Nice.
Great more crime and violence. As of there are not enough shootings. Underage people will be drinking these cups given to them by their of age companions who purchase them bring them outside and hand out to minors. But typical liberal thought process shines “drink responsibly Be 21” is on all the cups so minors won’t be able to drink. I guess you gotta be drunk to visit downtown Grossboro anyways.
Is the City of Greensboro prepared to enforce the associated regulations and laws surrounding this ordinance? Does the City intend to find more police officers to hire for this purpose?
Enforcing all of these rules is ludicrous. Retired school principals would be best enforcers of this crazy idea. Let the police take care of the thieves and violent crimes that evil white people commit.
Really? This makes me want to go downtown even less. More crime! Make it convenient for more crime to happen, more drunk fights, more drunk guns and more killings.
Move along folks…..nothing to see here
This is a ridiculous idea.This promotes more problems then the city council can handle. They are already overwhelmed with silly policies they pass and don’t take responsibility for. Instead of aiding to alcoholic behavior why doesn’t the city council take more care into our homeless population?
Adults should be able to drink wherever they want.