Sip & Stroll Maintenance Plan

Introduction

A “social district” is an area where people can walk with open, to-go cups of alcoholic beverages in a contiguous area. A social district may include both indoor and outdoor areas of businesses within the defined district during the days and hours established for the district.

The Sip & Stroll Downtown Holly Springs Social District will allow beer and wine purchased from participating establishments to be consumed within district boundaries, during the times of Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Boundaries for the social district will be clearly marked with signage at prominent entrance and exit points of the district.

Visitors to the district are not allowed to bring and consume their own alcoholic beverages. Any alcoholic beverages consumed in the social district must be consumed from the required specially labeled cup. A person cannot pour their wine or beer into any other type of cup or container. Only beer and wine sold by a participating ABC permitted establishment within the district may be consumed in the specially labeled cup – liquor may not be consumed outside of the establishment in which it was purchased.

A person may take their beer or wine into the establishment where they bought it, another participating business that allows the specially labeled cups, or a public, outdoor space within the district's boundaries. No alcoholic beverages are to be taken into parking areas or in a non-participating business within the parameters of the district unless noted otherwise. A person is required to dispose of any alcoholic beverage in the person’s possession prior to exiting the social district or entering a vehicle.

Management

The Sip & Stroll Downtown Holly Springs Social District will be jointly managed by various Town departments.

Law enforcement within the social district shall be provided by the Holly Springs Police Department.

Sanitation services within the social district boundaries, including trash removal and litter pick up will be provided by Holly Springs’ Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments. Trash and recycling receptacles will be located within the boundaries of the social district to encourage patrons to properly dispose of their used cups and unconsumed alcohol.

Promotion and marketing strategies for the social district will be developed by the Town. Participants of the social district are to follow the Town marketing and design guidelines.

Days and Hours of Operation

The social district will operate Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

District Boundary

The district boundary begins 120 feet north of the Main Street and Holly Springs Road intersection and extends south to Oak Avenue. It is bounded to the west at a point 120 feet from Main Street and to the east to include the Cultural Center property. The exact boundaries are shown in the map below, which the Town may update periodically. This map will be maintained on the Town’s website.

Social District Map

Participating and Non-Participating Locations

Businesses located within the social district boundary can decide how they wish to participate within the district. Businesses that have not indicated their social district participation will, by default, be opted out until indicated otherwise.

ABC Permitted Businesses can participate in the following ways:

  • Selling/serving wine and beer within the social district in a clear cup with the social district beverage sticker.
  • Allowing or prohibiting social district beverages from other establishments on the premises of their business.

Non-ABC Permitted Businesses can decide whether or not to allow social district beverages from other permitted establishments on to the property of their business.

Business decals will be displayed to indicate the businesses’ participation status:

  • Beverages Welcome: Indicates that social district beverages are allowed within the business from other permitted establishments.
  • Beverages Sold Here: Indicates that social district beverages are sold/served at the business.
  • Please No Beverages: Indicates that social district beverages are not allowed within that business.

Social District Requirements

Under North Carolina law, an alcoholic beverage purchased for consumption in the social district must:

  • Be consumed in the social district.
  • Be disposed of before exiting the social district unless entering a business within the social district that allows alcoholic beverages to be brought inside the business.

ABC Permittee Requirements

Under North Carolina law and Holly Springs’ social district ordinance, a permittee located and selling alcoholic beverages within the social district must meet the following requirements:

  • Only sell and serve alcoholic beverages on its licensed premises.
  • Only sell beer and unfortified wine for consumption off its premises within the social district in a container that meets all the following requirements:
    • The container clearly identifies the permittee from which the beer or wine was purchased.
    • The container clearly displays the official Town social district logo in which it will be consumed.
    • The container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, “Drink Responsibly – Be 21.”
    • The container shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.
    • The container is not comprised of glass.

A permittee located and selling alcoholic beverages within the social district should meet the following requirements:

  • Write the name of the business and the date/time of when the beverage was served on the social district beverage sticker.

Patron Requirements

The possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a social district is subject to all the following requirements of North Carolina law:

  • Only alcoholic beverages purchased from a permittee located in the social district may be possessed and consumed.
  • Alcoholic beverages must:
    • Only be in a designated, specially labeled social district cup.
    • Only be possessed and consumed during the days and hours set by the Town of Holly Springs:
      • Monday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • A single patron cannot be sold or delivered alcoholic beverage drinks in excess of two alcoholic beverage drinks at one time which contains beer or wine.
  • A person must dispose of any alcoholic beverage before exiting the social district unless entering a business within the social district that allows alcoholic beverages to be brought inside the business.

Residential Areas

The designated social district boundary includes public areas such as sidewalks, streets, other municipal spaces, and private businesses as outlined in the official boundary map. Residential areas are not included.

Special Events

A special event located within a social district may apply for a permit from the ABC Commission to sell alcohol within its event area. According to ABC Commission staff, a permitted special event can participate in a social district if it complies with all applicable North Carolina laws, including allowing social district beverages to be carried into and out of the event area. However, participation in the social district is at the discretion of the event organizer. This means that while a permitted special event may choose to allow social district beverages within its footprint, it is not required to do so.

For permitted special events that choose not to participate in the social district, the event organizers are responsible for providing the necessary signage noting outside beverages are not allowed within the event’s footprint.

Parking Areas

While parking areas are not included in the designated social district, the Town reserves the right to temporarily activate parking areas for Town-sponsored events. During such activations, the Town may permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Any temporary activation of parking areas within the social district shall be subject to approval by the Town and communicated in advance.