People can drink in public in downtown Durham, new social district "The Bullpen" opens

A growing trend in North Carolina cities, "social districts" are areas where you can carry alcoholic drinks in public.

There are currently 18 of these social districts throughout the state. Several North Carolina municipalities have adopted social districts within the last year. Raleigh's social district began in August.

As of today that includes "The Bullpen" in downtown Durham.

In September 2021, North Carolina lawmakers passed a law allowing cities and towns to create social districts.

Participating bars and restaurants will allow customers to leave with a branded cup, along with the time and date the alcohol was served, so they can walk around within the boundary of the social district. The boundaries of the social district include nearly all of downtown Durham.

In October, the Durham City Council voted unanimously to create the downtown social district as a way to stimulate downtown businesses.

Chris Creech, owner of the Glass Jug, is confident this will be successful and thinks it will encourage people to explore new places and spend more time in the area.

"I think the city has done a really great job of evaluating this and making plans and how they're enforcing things, how they're advertising things," Creech said. "I think us as businesses feel very comfortable with the way it's been set up. We've also been able to watch this happen in other cities and see how successful it's been."

The district runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each night. Many businesses here like the Glass Jug are having special events planned this weekend to officially kick things off.