Westfield Council Approves 'Open Container' Drinking Law For Areas Downtown - TAPinto.net

WESTFIELD, NJ — Just in time for spring and summer outdoor dining, a new local law approved at Tuesday’s town council meeting will permit diners in town to enjoy their wine, beer or mixed drink outside.

Under a measure the council unanimously approved at the meeting, drinking alcoholic beverages from open containers will be allowed in designated spaces. Drinks must be packaged, and drinks to go must be in covered containers.

The areas will include parking spaces that have been converted into areas for outdoor dining, known as “parklets,” and in the following zones:

• Quimby Street from Central Avenue to Elm Street
• East Broad Street from Prospect Street to Elm Street
• Elm Street from North Avenue to East Broad Street

Drinking would also be allowed during town-sponsored events held at Foundation Park at 454 South Ave. West and on the sidewalk abutting or immediately adjacent to 137, 127 and 121 Central Ave., across from Quimby Street, the approved

says.

Local business owner Charles Murray told TAPinto Westfield he thinks the law can spark interest among patrons. Murray owns Ferraro’s, an Italian restaurant with a liquor license on Elm Street.

“We make great drinks here, so I think it'll help us,” Murray said.

“I think it'd be good for business because people may give us a shot. Maybe they would never try the restaurant, but they say ‘let's go for a drink,’ they try the drink, they like the ambiance, they like the service, and maybe they’ll try the food next time.”

At the council meeting, which included a public hearing of the ordinance, some members of the public opposed it despite several restaurant owners’ positive views and the widespread enthusiasm residents have shown on social media.

Courtney Schael, an attorney with offices on Quimby Street, said her business has already been hurt by having the street closed to traffic, and allowing drinking on that street will make the matter worse.

“For service businesses, one of the most important things is parking for our customers,” Schael said.

“If you want to keep service businesses, if you want to attract customers, this is not the way to do it,” she said. “People drinking on the street on Friday night on Quimby Street are not going to go to stores. They’re all closed.”

Town resident John Blake, said the new law could have dangerous consequences.

“You’re providing an open area where anybody can drink any alcoholic beverage they want,” he said. “Is nobody there to safeguard who's getting in and whether or not people are minors or adults?”

“I just don't know whether you've asked your insurance company what the rates are going to be once you start providing a safe haven for people who want to drink,” Blake said.

Mayor Shelley Brindle clarified what the measure allows before council members voted on it.

“This isn’t going to a bar, ordering a margarita and walking around town with it. The drinks people purchase must be packaged,” she said.

“It’s really no different than going to a BYO restaurant, sitting outside and drinking a bottle of wine,” Brindle said. “This just allows you to do it in places that are in the public domain, in very prescribed times and places.”

The mayor said the council is acting in consultation with the Downtown Westfield Corporation, the police chief, “and anyone else that might have issues related to insurance, liability and so forth.”

Last month, Downtown Westfield Corporation Executive Director Bob Zuckerman told TAPinto Westfield establishments that sell alcoholic beverages would be required to sell them with closed lids, and that the town will indicate where the open container areas are with signage.

The ordinance states, “the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption in an open container area shall be subject to the provisions of Title 33 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey, rules and regulations promulgated by the director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and all other municipal ordinances.”

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source: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/westfield/sections/food-and-drink/articles/westfield-council-approves-open-container-drinking-law-for-areas-downtown

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