Here are the latest 2 Wake County towns that may create social drinking districts
Two Wake County towns are the newest to consider creating social districts in their downtown areas for the public consumption of alcohol.
Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest announced the proposed districts Friday. They would let people buy alcohol to go in participating businesses and drink it while walking through the designated zone. State law otherwise forbids drinking on public sidewalks and streets.
Last year, Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law House Bill 890 that allowed the state’s municipalities to create social districts.
On Oct. 17, the Durham City Council voted unanimously for an open-container-friendly downtown district starting in December. Downtown Durham Inc., an economic nonprofit for the city, has been working since March to get the ordinance passed.
The vote came two months after the Raleigh City Council officially launched its social district in August with more than 70 participating businesses downtown. Greensboro, Kannapolis and Monroe have also launched districts.
Fuquay-Varina is taking public comments about the proposed social district until Nov. 16. Wake Forest’s town leaders plan to draft a proposal later this year.
Fuquay-Varina’s social district
If approved, Fuquay-Varina’s district would begin a few months later, according to the town.
The proposed area would run seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The closing hour is consistent with when special events, dinner and retail hours typically end before later nightlife activity, according to the town.
Signs would be posted to mark the exact designations of the social district, and no outside alcohol would be permitted.
Only alcohol from participating businesses in the social district could be consumed. The business would provide cups to participants but the town would provide a sticker for the cup with the date and time the drink was served.
Other features of the proposed social district in Fuquay-Varina include:
- Markers for participating businesses in windows
- No more than two beers or glasses of wine at a time
- No more than one alcoholic drink at a time if the drink contains liquor
Anyone who leaves the social district with the alcohol could be criminally charged under the proposed ordinance. Alcohol also could not be possessed while driving or riding a bike.
Wake Forest’s social district
Sixty-eight percent of downtown business owners in Wake Forest favor a social drinking district and several town commissioners also support the idea, said Jennifer Herbert, the downtown development manager, said in a release.
If the town opts for the social district, similar to other law requirements, the town would need to mark the district’s boundaries and the drinks would be served in a plastic cup that is no more than 16 ounces.
Restaurants and bars in Wake Forest could decide the extent of their participation in the social district.
People would be able to leave one participating business to go to another but might be prohibited from entering without first finishing the drink they got at the previous location, the release stated.
Alcoholic drinks could be taken into businesses that are participating but are not selling alcohol including retail stores and art galleries.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 1:03 PM.