The mass shooting in the downtown Montgomery entertainment district on October 4th could have an impact on entertainment districts across the state, including Tuscaloosa. State law currently allows municipalities to have up to five geographically defined entertainment districts. Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile, and several other cities have such districts.
The goal of city sanctioned entertainment districts is to allow people to purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed restaurants and bars and carry them outside in designated areas.
The Tuscaloosa City Council approved a downtown entertainment district on Fridays and Saturdays in 2018. They also periodically establish temporary districts for large-scale events such as Octoberfest.
Now the Alabama Alcohol and Beverage Control Board wants to make changes it claims will provide better safety. Two people died and 12 were wounded in Montgomery, prompting the Board to consider limits to the amount of alcohol certain retailers can sell for off-premises consumption. They are also recommending lawmakers pass curfews for minors in entertainment districts and restrictions on giveaways of alcohol at large public events.
Governor Ivey has thrown her support behind the ABC Board proposals. “Public safety is paramount, and the state will continue being proactive to ensure safe communities for our citizens,” Ivey said in a written statement.
The board is getting pushback from Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). The longtime West Alabama lawmakers believes that easy access to guns is problem, not entertainment districts.
“Those big gatherings bring revenue into the state of Alabama,” he said. “So, let’s start talking about what is real, and not those things that we just want to do for political convenience that’s gonna get headlines.”
In order to protect those gatherings, Singleton said he is bringing a bill next session to repeal permit-less carry laws that Cottondale State Senator Gerald Allen got passed.
The ABC Board proposals will be presented to the next legislative session in January.