The city of Gainesville announced Friday that it has launched a webpage dedicated to showing the new open-container restrictions and “Sip & Stroll Districts.”
With the first weekend of 2024 under the new ordinance, the online resource, gainesvillefl.gov/sipandstroll, features frequently-asked questions for both patrons and business owners along with showing maps of the two “Sip & Stroll Districts,” also known as the arts, culture and entertainment districts.
Open containers of alcohol are permitted inside the district boundaries between the hours of 8 a.m. and midnight. The permitted areas include on sidewalks, public parks or other public rights of way.
Areas off limits for open containers inside the district boundaries include the Downtown parking garage and some of the public parking lots.
The Sip & Stroll Downtown District includes 17 city blocks plus Depot Park and Bo Diddley Plaza where there are a high concentration of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The Sip & Stroll Grove Street District encompasses the area located around the 6th Street Rail Trail between NW 4th Street and NW 2nd Street.
City staff are providing window decals and district maps to the establishments inside the district boundaries and signs will be installed on streets in the districts where open containers are allowed.
Florida’s legal drinking age, along with other state and local laws, will remain unchanged and in full effect, which include open containers in vehicles and laws concerning public intoxication. Gainesville Police Department officers will be issuing criminal infractions or civil citations to anyone found in violation of the ordinances.
The Gainesville City Commission voted to restrict open containers of alcohol on public property and set the two district boundaries for the limited exceptions at its Oct. 26 meeting.