ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — North Carolina counties and cities are now allowed to create their own "social districts," where you can walk around and consume alcoholic drinks in designated outdoor areas.
WALKING AROUND WITH ALCOHOLIC DRINKS? NC BILL AIMS TO CREATE 'SOCIAL DISTRICTS'
The measure is part of a big Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) "omnibus" bill that Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law earlier this month.
The boundaries of the social districts will be clearly defined and chosen by local officials. It's a much smaller version of the open-container policies in New Orleans and Savannah.
In NC, these "social districts" are required to provide to-go containers for alcoholic drinks that have some sort of marking indicating the drink must stay within the parameters of the district. People will not be able to carry their open containers outside the district.
NC HOUSE APPROVES BILL ALLOWING DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DISTRICTS
Rep. Tim Moffitt (R-District 117) is the chairman of the House ABC Committee and a big supporter of this measure. He said it's part of his mission to make the state's alcohol regulations more flexible and receptive to what communities want and need.
He said these districts will provide more options for people who prefer social distancing and being outdoors. He said it will also help revitalize mountain communities hit hard by the pandemic financially.
"It really, I think, is going to be something that's exciting, that's going to bring people back downtown, that's going to allow our communities to thrive in a post-pandemic-type reality," Rep. Moffitt said.
He said he is excited to see where local officials decide to create these districts.
