North Little Rock to Weigh Public Drinking Proposal

Alcohol, Public Drinking, ,

The North Little Rock City Council will consider a proposal to permit public drinking in its Argenta District daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Act 812 of 2019 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

These districts can be permanent or temporary, under Act 812.

Public drinking proposals have cropped up across the state in recent months.

The Fayetteville City Council voted last week to allow public drinking, but city board members in neighboring Siloam Springs recently rejected a public drinking proposal.

As we have said many times, 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 or bolster the economy.

It hurts neighborhoods and families.

That’s why Family Council has put together a free toolkit to help citizens oppose these public drinking districts.

Our toolkit contains talking points, information about problems public drinking has caused in other states, photographs of public drinking districts elsewhere around the country, and other resources you can use to fight public drinking in your community.

Click here to download our free toolkit.

Photo Credit: Welcome to North Little Rock, Arkansas by Jimmy Emerson, DVM on Flickr.

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Fort Smith City Directors to Review Public Drinking Proposal

Alcohol, Public Drinking, ,

The Fort Smith Board of Directors will study a proposed ordinance that would let the city authorize public drinking during special events at its study session meeting on Tuesday, March 10.

Act 812 of 2019 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

These districts can be permanent or temporary, under Act 812.

The proposed ordinance in Forth Smith would create two semi-permanent public drinking districts in town.

The districts would ordinarily be inactive, but they could be activated during special events with approval from city officials — meaning public drinking could be authorized during festivals and other events in Fort Smith.

As we have said time and again, 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 or bolster the economy.

It hurts neighborhoods and families.

That’s why Family Council has put together a free toolkit to help citizens oppose these public drinking districts.

Our toolkit contains talking points, information about problems public drinking has caused in other states, photographs of public drinking districts elsewhere around the country, and other resources you can use to fight public drinking in your community.

Click here to download our free toolkit.

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Paragould City Council Weighs Public Drinking Ordinance

Alcohol, Public Drinking, ,

This week the Paragould City Council took up a proposal to legalize public drinking in certain parts of the city’s downtown.

Act 812 of 2019 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

The legislation barely passed the Arkansas Legislature last spring, and it took effect this past summer.

Paragould’s public drinking proposal would let people purchase alcohol to-go in 16-ounce cups from bars and restaurants in the entertainment district.

People would be able to drink publicly in the district from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM every Thursday through Saturday.

The Paragould City Council will consider the ordinance again at its next meeting in November.

The news comes as Camden considers a similar ordinance and Fayetteville’s city council opts to put its proposed public drinking district on hold indefinitely.

Family Council has put together a free toolkit to help citizens oppose public drinking ordinances like Paragould’s.

Our toolkit contains talking points, information about problems public drinking has caused in other states, photographs of public drinking districts elsewhere around the country, and other resources you can use to fight public drinking in your community.

Click here to download our free toolkit.

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