SB352 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Class 5 municipalities, entertainment districts, authorized to serve alcoholic beverages in designated areas, including areas not adjacent to licensed premises, Sec. 28-3A-17.1 am'd.

Summary

Class 5 Alabama municipalities can designate public areas within entertainment districts where licensed retailers can sell and customers can consume alcohol, including areas not attached to the main license premises.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets city governments designate sidewalks, rights-of-way, streets, alleys, or parking areas inside an entertainment district as zones where alcohol can be sold and consumed. These designated areas may be outside (not adjacent to) the licensee’s main premises. Any retail licensee within the district can sell for consumption in the designated area, which is treated as if it were inside the licensee’s main premises. The bill also sets limits on how many districts can be created and how large they can be.

Who It Affects

• Governing bodies of Class 5 municipalities (and related eligible municipalities) who would designate entertainment districts and designate consumption areas.
• Retail Alcoholic Beverage Control licensees within an entertainment district and their customers, who would be able to sell and consume beverages in the designated public-area zones (including areas not adjacent to the main premises).

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 28-3A-17.1 to allow designated consumption areas in public spaces within an entertainment district for any retail licensee with an entertainment district designation.
• Designated areas can include public sidewalk, right-of-way, street, alley, or parking area within the district and may be not adjacent to, or connected with, the licensee’s main premises.
• Licensees in the district may sell alcoholic beverages for consumption in the designated area, and consumption in that area is treated as if it occurs inside the licensee’s main premises for licensure purposes.
• District limits by municipality class: up to two entertainment districts for Class 2 and Class 5 municipalities (and certain others), up to five districts for Class 1, Class 3, or Class 4 municipalities (with at least four licensees per district and areas not exceeding 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile).
• The act applies to Class 1–5 municipalities and certain entities (arts council, main street program, or downtown development entity) and becomes effective immediately upon governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities