AR Cities Weigh Public Drinking Districts

Alcohol, Public Drinking,

Last week Arkansas Business reported several cities in Arkansas are weighing whether or not to legalize public drinking in certain parts of town.

Earlier this year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 812 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover). The new law — which takes effect July 24 — lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

Currently, this kind of behavior is illegal under Arkansas law.

According to the article, Little Rock, Texarkana, El Dorado, and Pine Bluff are considering the issue of public drinking in one way or another.

Mountain Home also is actively considering a proposal that would legalize public drinking on streets and sidewalks throughout most of its downtown.

As we keep saying, letting people drink on city streets and sidewalks won’t improve the economy in our communities.

Public drinking raises serious concerns about public safety.

Cities like Memphis and New Orleans have had significant problems with violence in their entertainment districts.

These districts also raise serious concerns about drunk driving in our communities.

Arkansas’ cities and towns need to think twice before embracing public drinking — and the problems that come with it.

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Mountain Home City Council Considers Proposal to Legalize Public Drinking

Alcohol, Public Drinking, ,

Last week the Mountain Home City Council considered a proposed ordinance that would legalize public drinking downtown.

Earlier this year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 812 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover). The new law — which takes effect July 24 — lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

The proposed ordinance currently under consideration in Mountain Home would allow public drinking from 4:30 PM to midnight over the course of several blocks in the city’s historic downtown.

To put it simply: Public drinking won’t encourage new businesses to locate in downtown Mountain Home.

Public drinking in entertainment districts raises serious concerns about public safety.

Cities like Memphis and New Orleans have had significant problems with violence in their entertainment districts.

Public drinking and intoxication also raise concerns about drunk driving in the neighborhoods surrounding the entertainment district.

Communities really should think twice before embracing public drinking — and the problems that come with it.

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NLR Mulls Public Drinking District

Alcohol, ,

KARK 4 News reported this week that officials in North Little Rock are mulling whether or not to permit public drinking in the city’s Argenta District under the state’s new “entertainment district” law.

Act 812 of 2019 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where open containers of alcohol can be carried and consumed on streets and sidewalks.

Entertainment districts essentially are areas where public drinking and public intoxication are legal. Under this law, an entertainment district could be temporary—such as at an event or festival—or it could be permanent.

Public drinking in entertainment districts raises serious concerns about public safety. Cities like Memphis and New Orleans have had significant problems with violence in their entertainment districts.

North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith told KARK he doesn’t want to “turn our downtown entertainment district into Bourbon Street.”

Unfortunately, that’s going to be tough to do if the city opts to permit public drinking when Act 812 takes effect later this summer.

Read more here.

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