COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Some cities in Ohio could have outdoor refreshment areas where revelers could walk outside with open containers of alcohol under a bill headed to the governor’s desk.
The House voted 87-7 Wednesday on the proposal, which allows cities of a certain size to create areas exempted from Ohio’s open-container law. That law generally prohibits a person from carrying an open container of beer or liquor in public.
The idea is to allow for entertainment districts, in locales like the Arena District, Short North or Brewery District, similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans and Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.
Supporters of the proposal want to create such areas in time for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati on July 14.
An emergency clause in the bill would cause it to take effect immediately upon Gov. John Kasich’s signature.