Tag: Entertainment Districts

Texarkana Puts New Restrictions on Public Drinking in Entertainment District

News outlets report the Texarkana Board of Directors voted to place new restrictions on public drinking in the city’s “entertainment district” at its first meeting of 2026.

Act 812 of 2019 let cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks. These districts can be either permanent or temporary under the law.

After Act 812’s passage, El Dorado and Texarkana were among the first cities to authorize public drinking under the law.

However, at its January 5 meeting, the Texarkana Board of Directors implemented new restrictions changing the entertainment district’s boundaries, requiring businesses in the district to close by midnight, and preventing people from bringing in alcohol from outside the district.

KSLA News quoted Kristen Schultz with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department as saying, “We have had for one a lot of outside underage drinking come into the district. We have also had a lot of loitering and prowling in front of the businesses creating large crowds and often large disturbances among the patrons.”

Unfortunately, Texarkana is not the only city that has encountered serious problems from public drinking in its entertainment district.

In 2024, the El Dorado City Council voted unanimously to shut down its entertainment district due to ongoing problems with fighting, vandalism, and other disorderly behavior.

As we have said for years, public drinking is a scourge on the community.

It raises serious concerns about drunk driving and public safety.

Public drinking doesn’t attract new businesses, bolster the economy, or revitalize Main Street. It hurts neighborhoods and families. It simply does not belong in Arkansas’ communities.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Former Arkansas Congressman Opposes Alcohol at Little Rock Park

Former Arkansas Congressman Vic Snyder says he opposes a proposal to allow alcohol sales at Little Rock’s River Mountain Park.

In an opinion-editorial published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday, Snyder writes, “I am opposed to any kind of beer or alcoholic beverage sales at River Mountain Park.”

Snyder says a privately owned kayak and bike rental facility that operates on the park’s property has applied to sell beer for consumption at nearby tables. Snyder says that while he wants the rental facility to be successful, “alcohol and water sports do not mix.”

Snyder writes,

Many Arkansans and their families like having outdoor recreation without the presence of alcohol sales on our park property. Is it any great hardship for folks who want a beer to drive up to Cantrell Road? What’s wrong with supporting businesses that pay market rates for leases, water, electricity, plumbing, sewer, restrooms and rest-room maintenance?

Whatever you think, please let Little Rock officials know your views. And comments with an original signature can be mailed or dropped off at Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control, 101 E. Capitol, Little Rock 72201. Our recreation along the Arkansas River is too important not to be openly discussed.

We have written many times about how public drinking has been a problem in Arkansas.

In 2019 El Dorado became one of the first cities in Arkansas to authorize public drinking in an entertainment district. However, last year, the city council voted unanimously to shut down the district due to ongoing problems with fighting, vandalism, and other disorderly behavior.

As Snyder points out, authorizing alcohol in Little Rock’s River Mountain Park would have serious consequences for the area.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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