Raleigh creates city’s first social drinking district in part of downtown

Visitors and shoppers in downtown Raleigh will soon have a new place to drink outside.

The City Council approved Raleigh’s first social drinking district Tuesday that will let people buy an alcoholic drink from a participating business and take it with them to their next stop.

The social district runs alongFayetteville Street and its auxiliary streets between Moore and Nash squares and includes the Raleigh Convention Center, Red Hat Amphitheater and Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

The district will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting Aug. 15.

The idea had been discussed at length in a council committee.

The drinks will be in branded cups to keep people from bringing alcohol into participating businesses from their own homes or outside the district.

Businesses or buildings in the social district also can opt out of allowing people to bring drinks into their establishments.

Social districts, recently allowed by state law, are already in other cities like Greensboro, Kannapolis and Monroe. Charlotte and Durham are both considering creating them.

A Downtown Raleigh Alliance poll found that a majority of downtown business owners, office workers and residents were in favor of a social district but hesitated once the district became closer to their home and business.

The pilot program could lead to more social districts throughout the city.

This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.