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Lawmakers and local bars hope to make social drinking zones in Michigan downtowns

Supporters of the bill say it will attract tourism and help restaurants and bars rebuild after COVID-19 profit loss.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Taking a summer stroll down Ionia Avenue in Grand Rapids could potentially look a lot different one day. Imagine a blocked off road to traffic, and people walking from one bar to the next with plastic cups outside. 

That's the idea behind social drinking zones. A new bill was introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives that would allow for the creation of these districts in Michigan cities.

The bill was introduced last week by Rochester Hills republican Michael Webber. 

"It would be more in a downtown area like Grand Rapids," said Webber, "and it would be a district where two, three, four bars, that are in fairly close proximity, come together to establish this district."

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The idea isn't new. Boarder states like Ohio have implemented these districts in places like Cleveland and Toledo. Similar ideas include Beale Street in Memphis and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. 

Mark Sellers, the owner of Max's South Seas Hideaway, Stella's Lounge, Hopcat and Grand Rapids Brewing Co., said he's been trying to get a drinking district in Grand Rapids for years. 

"I think it’d be great for Grand Rapids," said Sellers," to have an entertainment district where you can walk around outside and have open containers."

Currently, the language of the bill lets local cities and communities approve these districts. Webber acknowledges challenges with enforcement and liability, but said that's why it's written to be flexible. 

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"We don’t want people walking blocks and blocks with open cups," said Webber, "but on the same token, it’s something they do in Toledo and other parts of the country. We think could be effective in our downtowns."

Webber said the social drinking districts would attract tourists to Michigan cities when it is safe to do so, given the threat of COVID-19. 

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Plus, these districts could give a much-needed boost to local bars and restaurants, which are suffering from profit loss due to the pandemic. 

"Right now, because we’re to-go only," said Sellers, "we’re not able to sell alcohol, which means we’re not really making any profit. We can barely generate enough revenue to keep the lights on right now."

Sellers said the majority of the bars' sales comes from alcohol. He's already planning for a 50-60 percent drop in revenue when dine-in business is allowed, and a drinking district could help offset that. 

"Being outdoors is where people want to be right now with social distancing and the virus transmission," said Sellers, "It’s much better to be outside. This is a way for people to have an enjoyable social experience, without being enclosed in close quarters."

Webber said he hopes to move the bill quickly through committee and the House, and hopefully it can take effect later this summer. 

"It’s not going to be for every city and community," said Webber, "but they get the opportunity to decide that, and figure out how to best utilize that space."

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