The Jacksonville City Council approved an ordinance to establish a temporary social district during the town’s upcoming downtown Oktoberfest celebration.
The ordinance passed as a part of the consent calendar in a 5-0 vote during Tuesday’s council meeting. Councilman Logan Sosa was absent from the meeting.
Oktoberfest will be held on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26, and will serve as a test run for a social district in downtown Jacksonville that would allow ABC-permitted businesses to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption within the designated area during the event, according to the request for city council action.
In addition to permitted businesses being able to sell alcoholic beverages, people attending the event will be able to freely walk around the social district and consume their beverage as long as it is in a designated event cup and they remain in the district.
The event will be put on by the Clove Hitch Beer Co. in partnership with the city of Jacksonville, according to the Clove Hitch Beer Co. website.
The ordinance establishes the district’s boundaries, operating hours, beverage container requirements, and the rules of possession and consumption.
The district will be an area on Court Street boarded by College Street, Old Bridge Street and East Railroad Street.
Operating hours for the district will be Sept. 25 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted outside of operating hours.
According to the ordinance, specific details for the district’s operation are being coordinated with city staff, event organizers, participating business and other stakeholders.
Event organizers are required to post signs throughout the social district that clearly indicate the district’s boundaries, operating hours, and the phone number for the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division of the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
The signs must also state that alcoholic beverages purchased in the district may only be consumed within the boundaries and it must be disposed of before the person leaves the district.
The ordinance outlines strict guidelines that the event vendors must follow including what type of containers can be used for alcoholic beverages.
The social district is subject to all applicable state and local laws, rules, regulations, permits and requirements, according to the ordinance.
The council previously met on Aug. 6 to discuss the ordinance and expressed support for piloting a social district for the event, according to the request for council action.
The social district will be a temporary set up solely for the event and will be disbanded following Oktoberfest.