Holly Springs Explores Social District to Boost Downtown Vibrancy
Town Council Consider Benefits and Challenges of Designated Areas for Open Alcohol Consumption
Being able to purchase a glass of wine at Wine 100 and take that same drink over to Bless Your Heart boutique to purchase a new gift is an idea being mulled over by the Holly Springs Town Council.
On December 10th, the council listened to a presentation about creating a social district in the downtown area.
A social district, as allowed by the state, is a town-managed area where alcohol can be openly carried. Holly Springs could join a growing list of Wake County municipalities.
The town tested the idea of a social district last spring during SpringsFest in the downtown area. The Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce supported the social district in April and continues to support the program.
Here's how the social district works:
The North Carolina law passed in 2021. [The law (pdf) and more context (pdf)]
It loosens restrictions for people to openly carry legally purchased alcohol containers away from bars or restaurants.
The boundaries of these districts and the hours/days of operation are set by the local city or county governments.
Signs must be clearly marked to make people aware of the boundaries.
Each social district must be registered with the ABC Commission.
Council Discussion
The plan being reviewed by the town is similar to ordinances passed by neighboring towns. When asked for feedback about a social district, area businesses brought up a range of issues including safety and litter, but overall business owners favor the idea of more exposure and foot traffic to their businesses.
How much the town spends on the district depends on the costs of marketing and required signage. Fuquay-Varina managed to keep the cost around $9500.
The council had a host of questions for town employees to consider.
The feedback, as well as the feedback the town received from area business owners and residents, will be reviewed and discussed in a future council meeting.
Meantime in Fuquay-Varina:
Fuquay-Varina just marked six months of allowing its social district after approving it in May 2024. Just a week after Holly Springs started its discussion, Fuquay-Varina town commissioners reviewed a motion to allow the expansion of the districts.
During the meeting, the police chief spoke, saying that there haven't been any concerns or arrests related to the district. Commissioner Bill Harris did request more review of the district due to concerns about an increase in alcohol consumption.
Despite Harris’s objections, the board voted in favor of the expansion.
After an alcoholic beverage is purchased and taken outside the establishment of purchase, what are the concerns that the beverage can be passed to an underage person or even sold to an underage person? Or, even taken inside another business and given to an underage person.
This, to me, is a very real possibility.