Manitowoc’s new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) will take effect this Friday, July 11th.
The Manitowoc Common Council created DORA in May, allowing licensed restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages in city-approved, transparent containers that can be taken outside the business and used by people walking around.
Visit Manitowoc Executive Director Courtney Hansen says there are eight businesses within the refreshment area that are interested in participating.
“They’ll receive their stickers that they put on those plastic cups if you want to take your drink out and about in downtown,” she explained. “So right now we have the Shrunken Head, Wrap It Up, Chewy’s, Craft Creek, Brick’s (Downtown Bar and Grill), Legend Larry’s, Pizza Garden, and Digger Daves.”
The DORA starts on Washington Street, between South 8th and South 10th Streets, and goes north up to Chicago Street through downtown Manitowoc.
Hansen says it will only operate from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day and will be available until October 31st of this year.
Normally, the program starts in April.
“This year, we got it approved,” she noted, “And then have been just working on getting a few pieces in motion, like the branding created. Erica in our office created a really fun logo that has the O (in DORA) is a cup with a straw.”
While there has been support for DORA, residents have voiced concerns about public drunkenness and whether it will lead to more littering.
According to the Visit Manitowoc website, participants will not be allowed into other businesses with their beverage; all beverages must remain within the DORA, and all state and local laws regarding the legal drinking age, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct remain in effect.
The ordinance was passed by the council with the idea of promoting economic activity and supporting local businesses.