When you step into the voting booth on Tuesday, your ballot will present you with a question: “Should we allow the option of social districts within the City of Concord?”
Social districts are designated outdoor areas for public alcohol consumption, and municipalities can now choose to legalize them if they want to, thanks to a new law passed by the state legislature this year.
It’s not a free-for-all. The law outlines several rules that Concord, like other cities and towns, must follow if it chooses to establish a social district: The designated area has to be clearly defined with explicit signage that shows the district’s boundaries and operating hours, which would be created by the Concord City Council.
Beverages would have to be purchased from a licensed restaurant within the social district and carried in approved non-glass containers no larger than 16 ounces. People also wouldn’t be allowed to exit the social district with the beverage and would have to throw it away before leaving.
For towns, establishing a social district is a straightforward vote at town meeting. For cities, it’s not that simple. In Concord, the results from Tuesday’s election will merely open the door for a social district — not actually enact one.
Put simply, if you’d like the Concord City Council to consider creating a social district, vote “yes.” Your vote won’t change the city’s current policy.
If you don’t want the city to even have the option to establish a social district, vote “no.”
The question will pass with a simple majority of votes.