03-06-2025
Reynoldsburg approves outdoor drinking area on East Main Street
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) – Reynoldsburg has become the latest central Ohio city to establish a district where residents and visitors can enjoy alcoholic beverages outdoors.
Reynoldsburg City Council has approved a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA), which will permit those who are 21 and older to order alcohol from participating businesses and drink it while walking around outside. The DORA will go into effect on June 27, one month after it was approved by the council. See NBC4's previous coverage in the video player above.
The drinking district encompasses about 57 acres and is located primarily along East Main Street from Davidson Drive to Waggoner Road, an area commonly referred to as Olde Reynoldsburg. There will be signage posted in the area to alert people of the DORA's boundaries.
Participating businesses within the DORA boundary will serve alcoholic beverages in a branded plastic cup. People will only be allowed to drink alcohol in these cups and cannot bring their own beverages.
The DORA will be active annually from March 1 through Nov. 1, on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., along with Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. The mayor will be able to adjust the hours for holidays or special events, with approval of the council.
The city will establish a safety plan with the Reynoldsburg Police Department and Truro Township Fire Department, as well as a sanitation plan implemented by the city's public safety and parks and recreation departments, the legislation says.
The ordinance states the city council will evaluate the DORA every five years, to either approve its continued operation or to dissolve it.
Designated outdoor drinking areas were legalized in Ohio in 2015 and provide an exception to open container laws. Reynoldsburg is joining multiple other local cities that have a DORA in place, including Bexley, Downtown Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, the Arena District, Hilliard, Worthington, Powell and Westerville.
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