In order to walk around on the Santa Monica promenade with alcoholic drinks they would have to be put in a non-glass, non-metal container.
Alcoholics rejoice. One may start drinking publicly at 8 a.m. seven days a week, if the Santa Monica City Council approves a full-time entertainment zone on May 13.
The entertainment zone, permitted under California Senate Bill 969 signed by Governor Newsom last September, allows patrons to purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed establishments and consume them while walking through designated public areas.
The Santa Monica City Council is asking for a full-time entertainment zone that would allow public alcohol consumption between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. seven days a week. Alcoholic drinks would also need to be served in containers that are not made of glass or metal. Does that mean the environmentally-sensitive Santa Monica will be using plastic?
The reason for promoting this zone according to Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis is “If we want to bring our tourists and regional visitors back downtown, I think we need to make it worth their while.”
Many residents have argued for years that the way to bring tourists back to the Promenade is to clean up the homeless some of whom are mentally ill and lay in front of doorsteps, defecate on the streets. People have argued that there should be help for the addicts who also frequent the promenade and leave drug needles (supplied by the L.A. County of Public Health) in public places.
Perhaps to get tourists back, the City should address the theft, assault and vandalism on and around the Promenade and public parking structures, which is well documented by the Santa Monica Coalition click here.
If it passes, Santa Monica would implement the program in early June, with the Pride on the Promenade event on June 21.
Patrons who are of legal drinking age will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages at a business on the Promenade that has a license to serve alcohol. People can then consume that drink outside within the designated zone, which will run three blocks of the Promenade.
Is Santa Monica aware that alcohol is considered a carcinogen? Studies have shown that alcohol contributes to about half a dozen types of cancers, including breast and colorectal, and heart and liver.
An April 2024 study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers showed that about 16,800 deaths could be prevented annually, if people limited their alcohol consumption.
And bathrooms? Will there be special porta-potties set up for those consuming booze – or does this mean there will be increased public urination. Who will be responsible for cleaning up the vomit of those who over consume?
How will Santa Monica track those drinking to make sure they don’t drive afterwards? Will that City be responsible if a drunk driver kills someone?
It remains to be seen if the City Council answers any of these questions at its Tuesday meeting.
OMG. This is SO stupid. What is the city council thinking? We just moved to SM from PP (yes, our home burned) and we are shocked at the lackadaisical manner in which the city deals with the homeless. The reason people aren’t coming to the 3rd Street Promenade is a fear for one’s safety and the fact there is trash everywhere. And this will only get worse with people drinking starting at 8a out of plastic cups no less. Who are those people who need to drink and walk at the same time that early? We must fight this to protect the city.
Well said. Well said. I wonder if the clowns on the City Council read CTN? Perhaps they should. They need to answer your many excellent questions. But we’ve all learned politicians don’t have to answer questions, even if they burn your village down, plus 10,000 structures, displace 100,000+ people, of which 12 were killed and 7 are missing. And SO much more. 😢
Possible to think of a dumber idea?
Encourage belligerent behavior, that’s your answer to increasing tourism?
people stopped coming to the promenade because all the shops are horrible, BECAUSE all the good brands left because of belligerent behavior, like theft, homeless, lack of any enforcement of disgusting behavior from homeless and thieves, and public safety, WAKE UP you desperate politicians, could you be any dumber
Santa Monica’s idea is so misguided. They want to bring commerce back to their ruined City… with alcohol? Healthy drinking..if there is such a thing is a social activity. You sit with friends and enjoy. The flip side is drinking just to drink. Which population do we think they’re going to attract?
I’d rather see some creativity. Close off the area. Pay to enter. Attract great restaurateurs. Tables in the middle. Walk-ups selling tapas, pizza by the slice, specialty beers and drinks. Fun, safe and protected. Close at midnight. 🌈🌷
Nothing say class like drinking booze from a paper or plastic cup at 8 AM. LOL
The whole premise seems to be “lets get everybody inebriated and maybe they’ll ignore the trash, urine, feces, theft, and homeless people”.
These are the ideas of the clueless politicians that you all have voted for. Nothing changes until YOU get rid of them