The City of Morganton officially launched the Downtown Morganton Social District, effective today, Wednesday, September 10. This new initiative, authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly and approved by the state, allows for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages within a designated area of downtown Morganton.
The Social District is designed to enhance the downtown experience by offering residents and visitors a more flexible and enjoyable way to explore local shops, restaurants, and events while responsibly enjoying a drink.
What to Expect
Visitors will notice clearly marked boundary signs placed throughout the district to identify where the social district begins and ends. These signs include QR codes linking directly to an online map and additional details on the City’s website.
How It Works
The Downtown Morganton Social District operates daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST.
Customers purchasing alcoholic beverages from ABC-permitted businesses within the district may request their drink in a designated social district cup. If you’re enjoying a beverage inside a participating location and want to take it with you, simply ask the business to pour it into a social district cup before you leave.
All social district cups must meet the following requirements:
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Made of non-glass material
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Maximum 16 fluid ounces
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Clearly display:
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The name of the business where it was purchased
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The official Social District logo
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The date and time of purchase
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A new cup is required for each alcoholic beverage. Once poured into a social district cup, beverages may be carried and consumed anywhere within the district boundaries. However, all drinks must be finished or discarded before exiting the district.
Participating Businesses
Currently, 13 ABC-permitted and 15 non-ABC-permitted businesses are participating in the Social District. Window signs will indicate each business’s level of participation:
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“Sold Here & Welcomed Here”: Sells alcoholic beverages and allows outside social district beverages.
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“Sold Here & No Outside Beverage”: Sells beverages but does not allow outside drinks.
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“Beverages Welcome”: Non-ABC-permitted business that welcomes visitors with social district cups.
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“Please No Beverages”: Does not permit social district beverages inside.
Rules & Reminders
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No outside alcohol is allowed. All beverages must be purchased from participating ABC-permitted businesses within the district.
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The Social District is monitored and enforced by Morganton Public Safety and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) officers.
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Please dispose of cups and any leftover beverages in the trash receptacles located throughout downtown.
The Downtown Morganton Social District is a collaborative effort between the City of Morganton, Morganton Public Safety, and the Morganton Main Street Office.
For full details, including a map of the district, participating businesses, and rules, please visit:
🔗 www.morgantonnc.gov/main-street/page/downtown-morganton-social-district