'A Social Outlet': Public Drinking Zones To Be Established In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — Public drinking may soon be allowed in Long Beach after city officials agreed to create a one-year pilot program aimed at enticing people back to a Downtown area that has struggled post-pandemic.

Long Beach's City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the Entertainment Zone Pilot Program, which will allow the city manager to work with other city agencies to outline details of what the new program will entail.

"The energy, the excitement around this is palpable," Mayor Rex Richardson said during the council meeting on Tuesday." We do think that this could be a, potentially, a really strong thing that'll really help identify Long Beach as a sort of a tourism destination, a music entertainment."

The city is expecting the pilot program to begin this summer, although an official start date has not been set. Once implemented, the new ordinance will allow people to enjoy alcoholic drinks outside in "entertainment zones" established in Downtown Long Beach.

The decision to establish the new pilot program comes as Long Beach is expected to host several Olympic and Paralympic games next summer.

"It's going to make our Downtown Long Beach more and more (of a) tourist destination," First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas said during the city council meeting Tuesday. "This is a great thing for Long Beach, it means more revenue for the city, better businesses and more amenities for our residents."

But in addition to attracting people to Long Beach for the big games, city officials said they hope the new entertainment zones will serve as a social hub that encourages community members to engage with each other and help bring customers back to small businesses that have struggled post-pandemic.

"I think this entertainment zone can be fun and innovative, and it will be a social outlet for our residents and visitors alike," Zendejas said. "Our social connectivity has struggled to resume post-pandemic. So much time in isolation has made it difficult to foster community. People want to be out, people want to be in community."

These entertainment zones are allowed under SB 969, which went into effect this year, and allows local governments to design outdoor areas where open container prohibitions are lifted for beverages purchased from participating restaurants and bars.

Santa Monica created its entertainment zone — the first of its kind in Southern California — earlier this year after its city council approved an open container ordinance. The program began with a "soft rollout" earlier this month, but will have its official launch Saturday during the annual Pride on Promenade celebration.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has created four such zones.

Los Angeles Editor Chris Lindahl contributed to this report.