Downtown Durham’s drinking district starts Thursday. Here’s where to go (and not go)

Durham’s alcohol-friendly social district kicks off this week, helping ease downtown into what merchants hope will be a very merry holiday season.

Dozens of businesses have signed on to sell alcoholic beverages in specialty cups that visitors can stroll with downtown starting Dec. 1.

We’re here to answer your questions about the district, nicknamed the Bullpen, that was unanimously approved by the Durham City Council last month.

What is a social district?

Business owners rallied by Downtown Durham, Inc. successfully lobbied the City Council to create the district as a COVID recovery strategy.

It’s no coincidence that it’s happening now.

North Carolina passed a law last year permitting social districts, and cities big and small have since jumped in.

Kannapolis was the first to launch. Raleigh’s got its start in August. Charlotte and Cary are exploring their options for next year.

When does Durham’s social district start?

▪ The social district ordinance goes into effect Thursday, Dec. 1.

▪ It will operate every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

▪ On Saturday, a daylong festival in downtown Durham will help usher in the new era. The day culminates in a tree lighting ceremony on CCB Plaza.

How to participate in Durham’s drinking district

All open containers are not equal under the new rules.

▪ Only specially branded cups are covered by the ordinance, meaning you can’t crack open a beer you brought from home.

▪ Sellers can customize their cups, but state law states they must be clear, no larger than 16 ounces, and bear the logos of both the business and the social district.

▪ The drinks can’t be taken outside the boundaries of the district.

Where to buy drinks

The district encompasses nearly all of downtown.

Dozens of restaurants, bars and even a bicycle shop with a beer cooler have signed on:

• Alley Twenty Six

• Aloft Durham Downtown
  
  

• American Tobacco Campus
  
  

• Arcana
  
  

• Beer Durham
  
  

• Beyu Caffe
  
  

• The Blue Note Grill
  
  

• Boricua Soul
  
  

• Brunello Wine Bar
  
  

• Bull City Burger and Brewery
  
  

• Bull City Ciderworks
  
  

• Bullseye Bicycle
  
  

• Clouds Brewing
  
  

• COPA Latin Bistro and Bar
  
  

• Counting House at 21c Museum Hotel

• The Daily Beer Bar

• Dashi

• Dram & Draught

• Durham Bulls Athletic Park
  
  

• Durham Distillery & Corpse Reviver
  
  

• Durham Food Hall
  
  

• Durham Marriott City Center
  
  

• Durham Performing Arts Center
  
  

• Durty Bull Brewing Company
  
  

• Federal
  
  

• The Fruit
  
  

• Fullsteam Brewery
  
  

• The Glass Jug Beer Lab
  
  

• Hi-Wire Brewing Company
  
  

• Honeygirl Meadery
  
  

• Jack Tar and the Colonel’s Daughter
  
  

• J. Lights Market & Cafe
  
  

• Killer Queen
  
  

• Krill
  
  

• Liberty & Plenty Distillery
  
  

• Lonerider Spirits
  
  

• LouElla Wine Beer & Beverage
  
  

• Luna Rotisserie
  
  

• Mateo Bar de Tapas
  
  

• Mellow Mushroom
  
  

• Mezcalito Grill & Tequila Bar
  
  

• Moe’s Southwest Grill
  
  

• Mother and Sons
  
  

• M Pocha
  
  

• Nanasteak
  
  

• Ninth Street Bakery

• The Oak House
  
  

• Pie Pushers

• The Pinhook

• The Pit Durham Event Venue

• Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar
  
  

• Pokeworks
  
  

• Pompieri Pizza
  
  

• Ponysaurus Brewing
  
  

• Pour Taproom Durham
  
  

• PRESS Coffee Crepes & Cocktails
  
  

• Queeny’s
  
  

• Ramblers
  
  

• Remedy Room
  
  

• Rubies on Five Points
  
  

• The Slush
  
  

• Toast
  
  

• Unscripted Durham Hotel
  
  

• Urban Axes
  
  

• Viceroy
  
  

• West End Wine Bar & West End Billiards

• The Wine Feed

Where to sip and stroll

These businesses don’t have ABC permits, but feel free to walk in with your cup:

• 5 Points Gallery

• Alliance Architecture
  
  

• The Artisan Market at 305
  
  

• Carrie Moore Interior Design
  
  

• Dolly’s Vintage

• Downtown Durham Inc.

• Durham Bottling Co.
  
  

• EUtopia Design

• The He Salon

• INDIO

• Kings Avenue Tattoo

• LRC Properties

• Mill & Meadow

• MODE Consignment Boutique

• Nest Realty

• The Parlour

• Revel Build Co.

• Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary

• Simon Says Dip This

• Temple Studio

• Through This Lens

• Urban Durham Realty

• Vert & Vogue
  
  

• Visitor Info Center — Discover Durham
  
  

• The ZEN Succulent
  
  

Don’t get caught

DDI has asked businesses to mark the time and date on beverages as they are sold.

Anyone violating the rules of the ordinance can be given a noncriminal infraction punishable by a fine up to $100, with proceeds going to Durham Public Schools.

Businesses can be punished with civil penalties of $250 a day, maxing out at $2,000, the ordinance says.

No alcohol allowed

No alcohol is allowed in schools, churches or most property owned by the city and county.

These businesses also have opted out:

• 321 Coffee

• 919 Barbers
  
  

• Altered Image Hair Designers
  
  

• Durham County Library
  
  

• Foster Street Coffee
  
  

• Gavin Christianson Bridal
  
  

• Hatch Rockers Immigration
  
  

• Rock Paper Scissors Salon
  
  

• Self-Help Credit Union
  
  

• Three Kings Tattoo
  
  

• Urban Ministries of Durham
  
  

• YMCA

Will alcohol be allowed at Durham’s Holiday Parade?

The city’s annual Holiday Parade is set for Dec. 17, but folks won’t be able to drink until after things wrap up.

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m., and the district doesn’t get up and running until 11 a.m.

Who is paying for Durham’s social district?

The city will not run the social district, voting instead to hand the reins to Downtown Durham Inc., also known as DDI.

DDI is a nonprofit charged with improving business downtown, supported by a tax on property owners in a 0.8-mile area that closely resembles the boundaries of the social district.

The city paid about $1,750 to install 50 signs around the city marking the boundaries, according to a Parks and Recreation spokesperson.

The remaining operating expenses will be paid by DDI and participating businesses.