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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council discussed details of a proposed ordinance to establish an entertainment district, which would allow limited open container alcohol consumption outdoors, during a work session on Feb. 24.

Open container alcohol consumption would be allowed outdoors within the district from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday.

Courtney Vane of the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Board answered several questions during the meeting.

The city would require businesses to use a specific cup for those wanting to drink their alcoholic beverage outside of the place it was purchased in the district. This would allow customers to go listen to a performance at Corner Park or just to take an evening stroll.

Mayor Jeff Mims said the cup will have the city’s seal on it and potentially the date it was purchased.

Residents will still be prohibited from bringing open container alcoholic beverages from outside the district into it. Vane said once someone purchases an alcoholic beverage at one of the four draft beer establishments in the district and walk outside the building, they cannot walk back into the business until they have finished the drink and thrown out the cup.

Allowing limited open container alcohol consumption at outdoor events outside of the proposed district during specific events, such as Peach Jam was also discussed.

Vane said a special event license would have to be applied for. A specific marked off area where the alcoholic beverage would be consumed is another requirement. This has to be at least 500 square feet, Vane said. Multiple vendors cannot combine their boundaries. The alcoholic beverage would be prohibited outside that boundary.

However, the city would need to pass additional ordinances.

Alcoholic beverage vendors for special events held within the entertainment district would not have the boundary requirement, but would have to stay in the entertainment district, Vane said.

The state requires four businesses that sell draft beer in the district in order to establish an entertainment district.

The businesses in the district would be The Bearded Peach, Neighborhood Grill, El Agave and Maddogs Grill. If the district is established and one of these businesses closes or moves without another one opening, the district would be dissolved until there were four again.

Mims said the entertainment district does not have to go to the state legislature for approval because the Chilton County Arts Council is located in Clanton. If the council approves establishing the district, signs designating the boundaries would be put up.

A vote is expected at a future voting session.

The next voting session of the Clanton City Council is Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.