HB215 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Class 3 municipalities, entertainment districts, further provided, Sec. 28-3A-17.1 am'd.

Summary

HB215 updates Alabama's entertainment-district rules to expand and clarify how districts can be created, how alcohol can be consumed within them, and how many districts municipalities can have based on class.

What This Bill Does

It allows the liquor board to designate entertainment districts for eligible on-premises alcohol retailers and tastings manufacturers within those districts; within a district, patrons may exit a licensed premises with open containers and drink anywhere inside the district, but cannot take containers into other licensed premises. It sets district size and minimum licensee requirements by municipality class (e.g., up to two districts for some municipalities, up to five for others, and special rules for Class 8 and island areas) and requires districts to be contained within a defined area (generally 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile). It also expands or clarifies that on-premises consumption within the district can include sidewalks, decks, and other adjacent or connected spaces with appropriate approvals, and requires licensees to have legal control of all property included; it repeals conflicting laws to align the rules.

Who It Affects

• Alcohol licensees (retail on-premises liquor licensees and manufacturers that conduct tastings) located in or seeking district designation, who may participate under the new entertainment-district rules.
• Residents and visitors within designated entertainment districts, who may carry and consume alcohol within the district boundaries and must follow rules about not bringing alcohol into other licensed premises.

Key Provisions

• The board may designate entertainment districts for eligible retailers selling alcohol for on-premises use and for manufacturers that conduct tastings, located within an established entertainment district.
• Within a designated district, patrons may exit licensed premises with open containers and consume anywhere inside the district, but may not enter another licensed premises with containers acquired elsewhere, and the district boundaries do not extend the licensed premises.
• Districts have size and licensee requirements by municipality class: Class 5 municipalities may have up to two districts; Classes 1-4 and certain others may have up to five districts; each district must have at least four licensees and be limited to about 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile in area; there are special rules for Class 8 municipalities and certain island-related situations.
• Class 2 provisions may include sidewalks and decks adjacent to licensed premises as part of the district, and special event areas outside entrances may be included with approval; licensees must control all property included in the licensed area.
• Class 8 island-related provisions allow up to three districts under specific conditions, including areas in business districts and on island properties, with corresponding property-control requirements.
• All laws conflicting with this section are repealed, and existing boundaries or restrictions on entertainment districts are updated to conform to these provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages