Emporia’s brand-new Common Consumption Area takes effect this weekend.
City commissioners approved the new designated space in mid-February but had to wait for final approval from the state before making it available to the public. The goal is to make regulations easier for both licensed alcohol vendors and city operations.
The CCA lets people legally drink alcoholic beverages indoors and outdoors while outside of participating businesses.
The ordinance affects certain parts of downtown:
*10 block of West Fourth
*Fifth from Commercial to Union
*Sixth from Commercial to Union
*Seventh from the north side of the 100 block west half (between Constitution and Merchant) to the south side of the 100 block east half (between Mechanic and Market)
*Eighth from the south side of the 100 block west half (between Constitution and Merchant) to Mechanic
*Commercial from Fourth to 12th
*Merchant from Fourth to Eighth
*Mechanic from Fifth to Eighth
*Market from Fifth to Sixth
There will be signage and sidewalk markers indicating the CCA boundaries. Participating businesses will have city stickers.
Residents need to stay in the CCA and drink from designated cups. Hours will be 8 am-11:59 pm daily — although Police Chief Ed Owens can close parts or all of the common consumption area for special events or if necessary.
With this ordinance, no open container purchased within the common consumption area can be removed from the CCA. Also, no alcoholic beverages can be imbibed in vehicles, either while on a CCA street or elsewhere. Consumption of liquor purchased outside the CCA and subsequently brought into that area will not be allowed.
