FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Change is brewing in Downtown Fresno.
Fresno City Councilmembers voted Thursday to pass the first phase of an ordinance to allow people to drink alcohol on designated streets during certain events.
And with that vote, Fresnans are one step closer to seeing more fermentation on Fulton Street.
“If we’re going to have alcohol sales, why not let the small businesses participate in that?” CEO of the Downtown Fresno Partnership Elliott Bach said.
The ordinance would allow “entertainment zones” downtown.
Bach said local businesses that already have liquor licenses would be able to sell alcohol to go, but only for people to drink inside the designated zone during permitted events.
“The drink that sold by the business can wander into the street where there might be food vendors, music, all the good things, right?” he said.
Bach points to San Francisco, where the city has over a dozen entertainment zones following the passage of a state law in 2024 allowing cities to create these zones in the first place.
In Fresno, the three zones would run north along Fulton, starting in the brewery district between Mono and Inyo.
Bach said bars that participate would get permits for the events. He said this makes it safer because licensed businesses would be the ones pouring drinks, rather than temporary vendors.
“If there are going to be alcohol sales, wouldn’t you rather businesses that have their liquor license at stake that are experienced in doing this 365 days a year, that those are the places where people are, you know, getting that drink?” he said.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said he supports the ordinance but understands concerns around safety. Dyer said drinkers would wear wristbands and the alcohol would be served in a specific cup, making it easy for officers to spot.
“We want to create an environment downtown that is unique to the rest of the city. If we are truly going to revitalize and transform downtown in the manner in which we need. We need a lot of people visiting downtown,” Dyer said.
Dyer said this could take place for about 20 events each year.
Max Brazil, who was meeting friends at Tioga Sequoia Friday afternoon, said he’s interested in the ordinance.
“To me it sounds like a good time as long as everybody’s safe,” he said.
He thinks it would get more people downtown.
“It would definitely be good for businesses, especially downtown, which could use a lot more foot traffic,” he added.
The ordinance returns to the council on June 4 for a final vote.
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