The Santa Monica City Council has approved a motion late Tuesday night to turn part of its Third Street Promenade area into an entertainment zone, allowing adults to drink alcohol as they walk around.
The zone will be in an area between Wilshire Blvd. and Broadway. Adults 21 and up with wristbands will be able to drink and walk around up to 18 hours a day, seven days a week; however, you cannot bring your own alcohol and you cannot take an alcoholic beverage out of the entertainment zone.
“We believe that the entertainment zone will have a positive impact downtown, not only by boosting foot traffic and supporting local businesses, but also by encouraging leasing in a one-of-a-kind area like Third Street Promenade,” one official said during the meeting.
During public comments, some people voiced their support for the entertainment zone.
“The ability to have these gathering spaces.where we can all come together and really enjoy our time in Santa Monica is just…I think what it's all about here,” one man said. “Being outside with a cold drink in my hand sounds like a pretty good way to do that, surrounded by friends.”
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Other people, however, believe that allowing alcohol consumption in the open could bring trouble.
“It's a very stupid idea,” one man said. “As we all know, nothing good comes from a bunch of drunk people freely walking around getting intoxicated from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.”
The entertainment zone is expected to be launched in June.
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