A proposal for a “red cup” district is ready to go before Columbus City Council after a committee of officials, citizens and business owners approved a list of parameters Wednesday afternoon.
If passed, it may more commonly become known as a “purple cup” district instead.
The district would allow patrons at downtown restaurants and bars to carry alcohol in to-go cups outside of the establishment where the drinks are purchased during specified hours.
The proposed district has been downsized from a previous suggestion, and now tightly hugs the area about three blocks north of Main Street and two blocks south. It stretches to Sixth Street to the east and Riverwalk Park to the west — taking in restaurants such as the Princess Theater, Zachary’s, J. Broussard’s, Munson and Brothers, Harvey’s, Huck’s and Main Street Thai.
The proposed area also includes the Farmers’ Market, the Rosenzweig Art Center and Riverside Park. Patrons could take their to-go cups into downtown businesses, as well, if the business allows it.
While initial plans called for uniform cups to be used within the bounds of the district, that requirement has been changed to be 16 ounces or less, purple and bear a sticker identifying where they were purchased. Beverages purchased from outside the district would not be allowed to be brought in.
Restaurants and bars must have a trash can outside and within 15 feet of the entrance.
While the initial proposal specified the red cup district would only be in operation Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the proposal allows to-go sales seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Munson and Brothers owner Ryan Munson said he thought the longer hours would help with music events held downtown.
“There are events that start around 10:30 (a.m.), lunch starts around 10:30, we have music programs that start around 10:30,” Munson said. “People may want to have a drink or a mimosa or something while they’re shopping.”
Having a uniform time every day would also make things less confusing, noted City Attorney Jeff Turnage, both for business owners and police.
Police Chief Joseph Daughtry told the committee he didn’t think the red cup district would add any enforcement burden.
“We can police it,” he said. “We had thousands here for the Market Street Festival, just like we did for (Fireworks on the Water). It’s not a question of if we can do it. We are short-staffed, but we’re not the only entity that is short.”
Daughtry said if there was a major event he could pull in more people to work, but didn’t think the red cup district would generate enough foot traffic to be a problem.
Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard suggested pushing the hours later than 10 p.m., but Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones said he didn’t think that was a good idea.
“We want to start tapering things off when people start to go to bed,” Jones said. “Everybody don’t stay out until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.”
Committee member George Hazard suggested enacting the red cup district on a trial basis and having the committee meet again in a few months to assess how it’s going.
“I’d like citizens to know it’s a trial, not a permanent thing,” Hazard said.
Turnage said there was no need to formally put that into the ordinance itself.
“We can just say that without putting it in writing,” Turnage said. “… I’m afraid if we put something in there about six months from now, and then we forget to do it and it’s in the ordinance, (then) there’s a question about whether (the ordinance) is enforceable.”
Chief Operations Officer Jammie Garrett said the next step will be taking the proposal to the full council. The council’s next meeting is Aug. 1.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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