Downtown Alpharetta Restaurant Patrons Can Walk Out With Alcohol

Downtown Alpharetta restaurant patrons can now walk out of the businesses with a drink in hand without breaking any law.
An initiative backed by the Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association to allow patrons of restaurants in a downtown district to take a single drink with
them as they go walking and shopping within the district.

The beer, wine or liquor must be in a plastic cup provided by the restaurant that holds no more than 16 ounces. Cans, bottles and glasses are
prohibited. Each person is limited to a single cup. And it has to come from one of the restaurants within the district. So you can’t show up downtown
with a cooler full of beer and tailgate at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. All other city laws are still in effect, including prohibitions on DUI and public
intoxication.

Councilman Doug DeRito said this is “just one more step for us working with DATA and folks in the area, businesses to help I guess serve as a catalyst
to enhance business operations and attract visitors to the downtown area.”

Councilman Jim Paine agreed the measure will help downtown development. Just look a little bit farther south at what Roswell is doing with their Alive
After 5 events, he said. This amendment to the city’s alcohol ordinance will help create opportunities for Alpharetta to catch up with what Roswell has
done. The city’s downtown development project can help also, if it’s approved by voters.
The downtown district’s boundaries are:
North–Church Street
West–Canton/Roswell Street
South– Marietta Street extended east to Haynes Bridge Road
East–Haynes Bridge to its intersection with Academy Street, then westward along Academy to its intersection with Main Street, then north to Church Street.

Smokejack Restaurant and The Coffee Pot on South Main Street, 52 Bistro on Church Street, La Casa Italian Grill on Old Roswell Street and Pure
Taqueria at Roswell and Marietta streets are within that area. Other restaurants already opened or that will open in the future within this downtown area
could do this if they get a pouring license approved.

By Bob Pepalis

http://alpharetta.patch.com/articles/downtown-alpharetta-restaurant-patrons-can-walk-out-with-alcohol