Boston Launches Open-Container Drinking Zones Downtown During the World Cup
The districts allow limited outdoor drinking to support World Cup crowds and local businesses, with one-day approvals, plastic cups and a one-drink limit.
- Starting Friday, Boston will open two temporary outdoor drinking zones at Blackstone Block District and Temple Place, operating through July 31 to accommodate World Cup tourism.
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu authorized the districts after an influx of 50,000 Scottish soccer fans strained the city's nightlife, following state lawmakers' recent decision to allow public drinking zones.
- Participating establishments must use clear plastic containers with labels, sell only one 16 ounce beverage per transaction, and prohibit patrons from bringing outside alcohol into the licensed premises.
- Downtown business leaders expect the initiative to support local establishments; the Temple Place zone includes 11 popular restaurants, 10 of which hold alcohol licenses.
- These social districts will operate through July 31, allowing Boston to capitalize on the World Cup tourism surge while providing a regulated environment for residents and visitors.
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Boston launches two public drinking zones for World Cup summer
Restaurant and bar patrons in two areas of Boston this summer will be able to take their alcoholic beverages to go and enjoy them outside. The city announced two “Social Districts” this week where new state legislation allows public consumption of alcohol. The two zones will be open from June 19 through July 31, to coincide with the World Cup, 250th anniversary of the United States and Sail Boston.
The so-called "social districts" will be open until July 31 and seek to take advantage of the World Cup's tourist boom to boost local businesses. Mayor Michelle Wu announced yesterday the two new districts: one on Union Street and Marshall Street, at the historic Blackstone Block near Faneuil Hall, and one on Temple Place, in Downtown Crossing. Both will run from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight (the Temple Place closes at 11 p.m.) and…
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Boston Herald
The News-GazetteWorld Cup crowds drive Boston to create two downtown social districts for public drinking
The World Cup tourism boom, led by what the mayor estimates has been an influx of 50,000 rowdy Scots, has prompted Boston to add two downtown social districts where people can legally drink alcohol outside, starting Friday.
Mass. is famously strict with its drinking laws. But starting Friday, Boston will open outdoor drinking zones during World Cup. - The Boston Globe
On Friday, the city will open designated areas for outdoor alcohol and food consumption to accommodate a crush of visitors descending on the region for the World Cup and other summer festivities.
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