Tuesday night the Wake Forest commissioners relaxed the town ordinance against consuming alcohol on town streets and sidewalks to allow 20-ounce go-cups filled with beer or wine in downtown during the April through September expanded Art After Hours called Friday Night on White in 2016.
The ordinance change says the clear plastic cups can contain up to 20 ounces of an alcoholic beverage. Friday Night on White will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. the second Friday night of each of the six months.
The commissioners also agreed to close South White and Brooks streets, the connecting streets and Elm Avenue from South White to the Renaissance Centre from 2 to 10 p.m. for the monthly event next year to allow for live music in the street and alcohol. Lisa Hayes, the downtown development director, said the goal is to entice more people to visit downtown, and there were a number of downtown property and business owners in the audience who were apparently there in support of the two measures.
Commissioner Greg Harrington, the town’s retired police chief, spoke against changing the prohibition against alcohol consumption on town streets and voted against it. He noted that the recent Beach Night on White drew 8-1,000 people to town – far more than anticipated – and there was no alcohol. “I just think it won’t be a big draw. I also received compliments because we did not have alcohol. I’m not against drinking. I’m against allowing alcohol on city streets.”
Commissioner Anne Reeve said there was alcohol consumed on the streets during Beach Night. She saw women drinking wine from small cardboard boxes, walking in and out of stores. She wondered how allowing beer and wine would be controlled. Hayes said there are a number of controls planned including colored wrist bands and clear plastic cups. Businesses selling the alcohol must check the buyer’s identification, sell only one to a customer and have special insurance, and Police Chief Jeff Leonard and Town Manager Kip Padgett can reinstate the total ban on alcoholic beverages if there are violations or if it is deemed to be in the town’s best interest to do so.
2 Responses
We recently visited Fredricksburg, Tx. They allow alcohol consumption every night on the downtown streets, perhaps all day. Perhaps someone could contact them as to how they handle the situation. While there, we heard nothing about trouble, bad behavior or anything negative. Since the street is very wide, it remains open.
Please note the following:
The street closure is ONLY for a one block portion of S. White (the portion between Jones and Owen Avenue). Jones and Owen will stay open.
The open container ordinance covers a broader area of downtown but the streets in that area are NOT going to be closed. ONLY the portion of S. White mentioned above.