The Downtown Cary Park Social District will take effect once Downtown Cary Park opens. 

Social Districts
Social districts are areas where people can walk with open, to-go containers of alcoholic beverages in a contiguous area. A social district may include both indoor and outdoor areas of businesses within the defined district during the days and hours established for the district.

Downtown Cary Park Social District Hours
Sunday – Saturday: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m.

How does the Downtown Cary Park Social District work?
The Downtown Cary Park Social District allows alcoholic beverages to be consumed within district boundaries, Sunday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Boundaries for the social district are clearly marked with signage at prominent entrance and exit points of the district. 

Visitors to the district are not allowed to bring and consume their own alcoholic beverages – no BYOB. Any alcoholic beverages consumed in the social district must be consumed from the required social district cup. A person cannot pour their wine, beer, or liquor into a solo cup or any other type of container. Only beer and wine sold by a participating ABC permitted establishment within the district may be consumed in the social district cup. 

A person may take their alcoholic drink into the establishment where they bought it, another participating business that allows the specially labeled cups, or a public, outdoor space within the district's boundaries. No alcoholic beverages are to be taken inside the Cary Regional Library, parking deck or in a non-participating business within the parameters of the district. A person is required to dispose of any alcoholic beverage in the person’s possession prior to exiting the social district or entering a vehicle. 

Business Participation Signs

Social District Cups

Business Participation

Businesses located within the social district boundaries can decide how they wish to participate. 

Permitted businesses can participate in the following ways:

• Selling and serving beer and wine in Downtown Cary Park Social District cups.
• Allowing or not allowing Downtown Cary Park Social District cups from other establishments on the premises of their business.

Non-permitted businesses can decide whether or not to allow Downtown Cary Park Social District  beverages from other permitted establishments on to the property of their business.

Signs or window clings will be displayed to indicate the businesses’ participation status:

• Beverages Welcome: indicates that social district beverages are allowed within the business from other permitted establishments.
• Sold Here: indicates that social district cups are sold and served at the business.
• Outside Beverages Not Permitted: indicates that social district beverages are not allowed within that business.

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PARTICIPATION STATUS

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Contact Sarah Preston, Downtown Cary Park’s Assistant General Manager, to express whether you would like to opt-in or opt-out of the district.

Email the following information to sarah.preston@carync.gov:

General Info

• Business Name
• Business Address
• Does your business have a current ABC license for “on-premise consumption” of alcoholic beverages? Yes or No
• My business would like to participate by serving beer and/or wine in the social district cup. Yes or No
• My business would like to participate by allowing outside alcoholic beverages in social district cups into my establishment. Yes or No
• My business would NOT like to participate in either serving alcoholic beverages OR allowing social district beverages into my establishment.

Point of Contact Information

• First & Last Name
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Additional comments or questions

Businesses that have not indicated their participation will by default be opted out until they have indicated otherwise.

Any ABC Permittee participating in the social district is strongly encouraged to consult with their own attorney or ABC Commission staff to familiarize themselves with the statutory and regulatory requirements associated with the social district and the consumption of alcohol beverages they sell that are carried into the district. 

Social District Requirements

Under North Carolina law, an alcoholic beverage purchased for consumption in the social district must:

• Be consumed in the social district.
• Be disposed of before exiting the social district unless entering a business within the social district that allows alcoholic beverages to be brought inside the business.

Patron Requirements

The possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a social district is subject to all the following requirements of North Carolina law:

• Only alcoholic beverages purchased from a permittee located in the social district may be possessed and consumed.
• Alcoholic beverages must:
  • Only be in a designated social district cup.
  • Only be possessed and consumed during the days and hours set by Cary:
    • Sunday - Saturday: 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
• A single patron cannot be sold or delivered alcoholic beverage drinks in excess of two alcoholic beverage drinks at one time which contains a malt beverage or unfortified wine.
• A person must dispose of any alcoholic beverage before exiting the social district unless entering a business within the social district that allows social district cups to be brought inside the business.

ABC Permittee Requirements

Under North Carolina law and Cary’s social district ordinance, a permittee located and selling alcoholic beverages within the social district must meet the following requirements:

• Only sell and serve alcoholic beverages on its licensed premises.
• Only sell beer and wine for consumption off its premises within the social district in a container that meets all the following requirements:
  • The container clearly identifies the permittee from which the beer or wine was purchased.
  • The container clearly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social district in which it will be consumed.
  • The container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, “Drink Responsibly – Be 21.”
  • The container shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.
  • The container is not comprised of glass.

A permittee located and selling alcoholic beverages within the Downtown Cary Park Social District should meet the following Cary requirements:

• Write the date and time of when the drink was served on the social district cup.
• Place appropriate receptacles in a prominent location(s) on the premises of their establishment.

Special Events 

A special event located within a social district can apply to receive a permit for the sale of alcohol within their event area from the ABC Commission. ABC Commission staff have indicated that a special event permittee may participate in a social district if the requirements under North Carolina law to do so are followed, including allowing beverages with social district cups to be carried from and into the special event area. Participation in the social district is at the special event holder’s discretion, and event organizers will have the choice to allow social district beverages within their event footprint or not. Downtown Cary Park staff will educate event organizers to determine their preference.

Businesses within the social district will receive notifications about upcoming special events and whether portions of the social district will be impacted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a social district?
A social district is a defined area where alcoholic beverages, sold by an establishment licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, may be consumed in a to-go cup specific to the district.
In September 2021, Gov. Cooper signed House Bill 890 allowing local governments to create social districts within the state of North Carolina, and then in July 2022 signed into law a bill that further clarifies social district requirements. On December 15, 2022, Cary Town Council passed an ordinance allowing the creation of the Downtown Cary Park Social District. On March 14, 2024, Council passed an amendment to the ordinance that expanded the boundaries of the district.

What type of drinks can be served in the Downtown Cary Park Social District to-go cups?
Beer or wine can be sold and served in social district cups by permittees in the social district.

How are the social district boundaries marked?
Signage is posted at prominent points to indicate the boundaries of the district. A map of the social district and its boundaries is found on this webpage. 

Will Cary expand the Downtown Cary Park Social District or create new ones?
The initial Downtown Cary Park Social District allows Cary staff to first manage and enforce a smaller district, most of which is Cary-owned property. This strategic approach increases staff's confidence and ability to manage the district prior to expanding to a larger footprint. 
On March 22, 2024, the first expansion took effect which included a portion of Academy Street and Park Street.

What are the days and hours of operation of the social district?
The Downtown Cary Park Social District operates seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Why does the social district end at 11 p.m.?
This is when the park closes.

How are participating and non-participating businesses be identified?
Signage or window clings are displayed in businesses to identify whether the establishment has opted-in or out of the social district. Participating & Non-participating Businesses are also noted on this webpage. 

How does a business opt-in to the social district?
Visit the 'Participating & Non-participating Businesses' tab on this webpage.

What cups are used in the social district?
Cary branded a recyclable aluminum solo cup to be used in the district for the date of purchase only. Establishments are required to indicate their business name on the cup and should include the date and time the beverage was served.

What are the requirements of a social district cup?

• The cup clearly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social district in which it will be consumed.
• The cup clearly identifies the permittee from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased.
• The cup displays, in no less than 12-point font the statement, "Drink Responsibly. Be 21."
• The cup shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.
• The cup is not comprised of glass.

How does Cary handle litter within the social district?
Cary will ensure that sufficient trash and recycling receptacles are available in prominent locations within and around the perimeter of the district where patrons will likely exit. Downtown Cary Park staff, along with Public Works, will ensure that trash and recycling are attended to daily on Cary-owned property.

How many alcoholic drinks can I purchase at one time in the social district?
A single patron cannot be sold or delivered more than two drinks of beer and wine at one time.

Can I take an alcoholic beverage in my social district beverage home with me?
No. Beverages should be disposed of in the appropriate receptacle prior to exiting the social district.

Can I bring my own alcoholic beverage, pour it into a social district cup and walk around in the social district?
No. Only drinks purchased from participating, permitted businesses within the social district are allowed. No outside beer, wine, or liquor can be brought into the social district.

What type of outdoor seating is provided within the social district?
In addition to outdoor seating at the participating establishments within the district, Downtown Cary Park has a multitude of seating options for patrons to enjoy.

What about retailers within a social district that do not want alcohol inside their business?
All businesses located within the social district have the option to opt-out of the district; they do not have to allow alcohol within their place of business. Signage is provided to all participating and non-participating businesses to clearly indicate their status within the district.

Can I take my alcoholic beverage into a vehicle within the social district?
No. No person shall possess an alcoholic beverage while driving a vehicle, including bicycles and scooters. An open container of any alcoholic beverage is also prohibited in the passenger area of any vehicle while on the right-of-way within the social district.

What happens if I leave the social district boundaries with an alcoholic beverage?
Individuals who leave the social district in possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages can be criminally charged.

How is the social district being enforced?
Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) and local law enforcement have jurisdiction over the social district.

How can I report when I see individuals breaking the regulations of the social district?
You can call the Cary Police Department’s non-emergency number at (919) 469-4012. In case of an emergency when an immediate response is needed, call 911 to report the details of the crime you witness. 
In addition to the Cary Police Department, you can also report violations to the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division or Wake County ABC Enforcement.