City councillors are considering proposals to bring public drinking to Santa Monica’s popular Third Street Promenade.
The proposal allows businesses that already have a license to sell alcohol to customers who can roam around in designated areas while already shopping or enjoying the atmosphere.
Supporters of the proposal believe it can provide a boost to downtown businesses in the post-Covid economy.
“I think that’s a great idea,” said Andrew Tomouth, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica. “I think it’s the biggest thing that’s happened to the promenade since it was built.”
If approved, the zone will be the first type in the state as Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a bill that would allow public drinking in areas considered “entertainment zones.”
The bill defines an entertainment zone as “a zone created by city, county, or city and county ordinances after January 1, 2025, allowing the consumption of one type of alcoholic beverage on public roads, sidewalks, or public rights.”
Additionally, the bill allows city and county officials to establish entertainment zones, which are currently being considered by Santa Monica city officials.
Councillors are weighing the idea of creating a permanent entertainment zone in the area of an outdoor shopping centre that covers three blocks from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado Avenue.
“My first instinct is eek, I don’t like it. Just because it can create a kind of atmosphere of confusion, I don’t like it,” the local said. “But I think it’s a great choice if it’s managed properly with the right ethics and regulations.”
According to downtown Santa Monica, there are strict rules in the area.
“No one can bring outside alcohol into the entertainment zone,” Thomas told KTLA’s Sara Welch. “It’s never free because you have to buy from a company here. It’s heavily regulated.”
City councillors will revisit the proposal at their next meeting in May.
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