Raleigh expanding areas, hours where people can openly drink on downtown streets
Raleigh is expanding where and when people can drink alcoholic beverages while strolling downtown streets.
The expansion of Raleigh’s Sip n’ Stroll program will add more of the Warehouse District and extend over to Wye Hill on the edge of Boylan Heights.
Raleigh began its social district in August 2022.
“We’ve seen an increase in sales, and we’ve not really seen a whole lot of issues,” said Downtown Raleigh Alliance President Bill King. “We’ve not seen issues with misbehavior or disorderly drunkenness or anything like that.”
The city will also extend the hours people can walk around with a drink in hand – starting an hour earlier each day at 10 a.m. It will go on seven days per week through 10 p.m.
The expansion of the Sip ‘n Stroll program and the extended hours are set to start on Aug. 15.
As of Tuesday, city leaders have not requested any additional funding for new signage for the areas where the new program takes effect.
Also, any business within the social district can choose to opt out of the city’s Sip n’ Stroll program.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance spent the last few months surveying more than 900 people, including business owners and people who live downtown. Among the people surveyed, 77% say the social district has had a positive impact.
“I think the people who have enjoyed it have proven they can be responsible with it, so there’s opportunity for that to continue to grow and we’re here to support it,” said Young Hearts Distilling owner Chris Powers.
In the social district, people can walk with cups marked with stickers, primarily along Fayetteville Street and a handful of other streets. Signs posted at select business tell you if you can buy social district drinks there or bring them inside from other participating businesses.
Several other North Carolina municipalities have launched their own social districts, including the December 2022 launch of “The Bullpen” in Durham.
