(FOX40.COM) — Some Sacramento businesses could be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages to go during certain times, depending on an upcoming city council vote.
In 2023, California passed a law allowing for the creation of “entertainment zones” in San Francisco, designated parts of the city where customers of businesses licensed to sell alcohol would be allowed to walk around outside of establishments with their drinks during special events.
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Last year, the law was expanded to allow any city or county within the state to establish its own entertainment zones.
On Tuesday, the Sacramento City Council is scheduled to discuss creating three entertainment zones in the city: the 20th and K Streets Entertainment Zone, the Ali Youssefi Square Entertainment Zone and the Convention Center Entertainment Zone.
The 20th and K Streets Entertainment Zone would stretch from Kayak Alley to J Street on 20th Street and from 20th Street to 21st Street on K Street.
As the name implies, the Ali Youssefi Square Entertainment Zone would encompass the area between 7th and 8th Streets and Merchant and K Streets, including Ali Youssefi Square. This zone covers businesses on both sides of Merchant Street and K Street, but only on the innermost side of 7th and 8th Streets.
Convention Center Entertainment Zone would be the largest of the special zones. It would cover the area between I and L Streets and 12th and 16th Streets, except for the most northwestern block containing the 900 13th Street Parking Garage and the Grand Hotel.
The city pointed to San Francisco’s 2024 Oktoberfest as an example of a successful permitted special event.
“Last year, San Francisco held its first entertainment zone event on Front Street,” a city document on the proposal reads. “It was very successful with about 10,000 attendees. All the participating bars reported that it was their largest event ever, with five to fifteen times more than average sales.”
When active, the boundaries of where customers are allowed to take their drinks will be marked in some way, such as with signs or sidewalk decals.
