Open drinking zone
 

An open drinking zone in downtown Laconia starts today, who's brainchild was this concept?
Now the homeless have an area to drink freely without breaking any laws!
Just another reason, for me anyway, not to visit downtown Laconia. :confused:

couldn't agree more.

Someday I will write a book...

"The Unintended Consequences"...Good Intentions Gone Awry

this would have been a "lively" topic on the old 'private' discussion thread...

Adult beverages tend to be incredibly expensive which keeps me away from places like this.

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

So, what's the typical type of a price for a cold Guinness dark beer and two slices of hot pizza at this new Laconia outdoor cafe?

So as I'm reading the rules, it's only on Thursday - Saturday from noon - 8pm. And at participating locations are allowed to serve in a specialized cup. No outside drinks are allowed and no glass bottles.
So that being said, how are the homeless going to be "free to not break laws"?

I am betting the idea came from an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages and just went to a legislator that was either open to the concept or trying to provide representation to a constituent.

The primary sponsors of the enabling legislation were:

Representative Bill Boyd [R]
Representative Mike Bordes [R]
Representative Jess Edwards [R]
Representative Jessica Grill [D]
Representative Michael Moffett [R]
Representative Jodi Nelson [R]
Representative Jason Osborne [R]
Senator Keith Murphy [R]

Of course the Governor signed it, and the City Council approved it.

Other than driving through, the only thing that I have in Downtown Laconia now is the Bank of New Hampshire. Belmont doesn't have a bank, so the size of BNH gives me some versatility in banking.

https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/enfo...t-downtown.pdf

https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XIII/178/178-35.htm

I have seen areas like this all over the country and never noted issues from the open containers.

Agreed, that's why I was asking why the Homeless got specifically pointed out that they were going to be the issue.

there will be some trouble, at least initially. But, as you say other places handle it. I go to New Orleans pretty often and it's nice to not have to slam a drink before leaving a bar. Just put it in a go cup and walk on the street like an adult.

I guess it may not make any difference, they are already an issue, IMO.
It's not my cup of tea, but if you don't mind, go for it!

Drove through around two. Four individuals enjoying a sidewalk beer. That’s all hope for the best


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I think the concern is the limited upside potential for the downside risk.

Unlike the Weirs, that would make some sense down around Lakeside, the Downtown may have a lot of businesses supporting it, but its doubtful to have a positive impact.

That area traditionally has been more about retail, and Laconia just needs to reset the focus back toward high end retail.

Few towns work as hard as Laconia to keep themselves "low rent"

Wait, I thought that today's homeless opted for drugs, not booze?

Not sure how a beer in your hand is going to make walking in Downtown Laconia a better experience. If there is outside entertainment that's worth listening to, people might come. Sounds like the whole idea is overblown.

Correct. I was a bit taken back. No barriers set up or entertainment in site.


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So, how does 'Open Drinking' impact the Laconia Police Dept ?
Is the Laconia P.D. going to have to designate Officers to monitor this activity, if so they could be redirecting staff for this timeframe, when they should be doing other more focused work for the tax-payers of Laconia. Just my thoughts to consider.

Anyone staggering around is likely a pretty good candidate for a free bologna sandwich while drying out in custody.......

You are assuming LPD is present. What about the other open businesses during these public drinking periods? Must they deal with this? How are they to handle an intoxicated person in their establishment?
Who cleans the streets of open containers and spilled drinks? Do the taxpayers pickup the cleaning tab?


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It will be one person on a typical July afternoon. During bike week it will be quite a few more...

I can think of only three places within the zone that serve alcohol.


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The odd thing.
If the Downtown is not making it already, this isn't going to help.

Agree fully


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Weirs
 

Does the Weirs have this same ruling? Seems like this would be a way better area to adopt something like this….

Dan

.... Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong!
 

Two or three outdoor ping-pong tables could be a welcome addition to this new Laconia drinking zone. Ping-pong is an excellent game to watch loaded with back & forth energy and action ...... very fun to watch or to play.

So, maybe Laconia Parks & Recreation could set up some all-weather ping-pong tables to add something special to this new Laconia drinking zone.

Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong ....... good positive energy! :D!

Why not make it a 'Ping-pong Zone' as well and get some ping-pong games happening in the zone!

Weirs doesn’t. My understanding is the city wanted to try downtown first (smaller area). I agree weirs would be more suitable. But, no one can explain how one stops individuals from coming off a boat with drinks and mingling in with the “sticker” carrying crowd. Enforcement is key


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I you watch what happened at Hampton beach a few days ago, that would be Weirs beach motorcycle week!

No. Most days the bike week crowd is older and respectful of others. Once Thursday evening rolls in all bets are off. Believe they have no plans to approve it before bike week. Has anyone heard anything?


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I doubt Bike Week would be the focus of this.
The City Council could easily have suspended the restriction during an event.

This is a broader policy to support a failing industry.
I think the change is that alcohol sales have fallen and keep falling.

And every attempt is being made to slow or reverse that trend.

Agree. The cost of two drinks at dinner can be more than the meal itself. The days of an establishment living off liquor sales maybe coming to an end. Quality and customer service will be front and center once again.


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Tuesday's, 10-3, the St Vincent thrift store on Union Ave has 30%-off for seniors, and the huge Irving Gas station at Union Ave and Messer St has low priced gasoline ....... otherwise do not spend one red cent in Laconia, never.

If the Laconia Parks & Recreation sets up some all-weather, outdoor ping-pong tables in their drinking zone, I will definitely show up to watch and to play ping-pong.

Besides, drinking and driving can get my driver's license revoked, so I do not drink. I'll buy a cup of coffee if it's one dollar or less.

A cup of coffee tells one a lot of the establishment. Weak or strong? Real cream or prepared pours in plastic?


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#1 best place to get totally excellent and exotic coffee in the area is at the bank, out front of Lowe's.

Plus, it is a free coffee!

Free coffee is good coffee. But, they use a powered creamer. Hard pass


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Well then, just accept the inevitable and raze downtown and build a huge data center in its place.

I always drink coffee black.

Ping-pong is the national sport in China which has many many public outdoor, all-weather ping-pong tables. Some are built with solid concrete and tennis nets made with ceramic tile to last for years, outdoors. Built like this, not much maintenance or upkeep is needed. Is an interesting concept, a permanent outdoor ping-pong table built with concrete and tile.

Is there any interest in watching and playing ping-pong in Laconia to create an outdoor ping-pong venue similar to China ...... or, does Laconia just want to drink ......:cool:?

It isn't the drinking, it is the belief that such a policy would encourage more of it.

If alcohol was a new drug today, I doubt it would be legalized.

Probably true.
Alcohol gave some protection from water borne pathogens historically.

But even carrying around a cup with water in it through busy streets can provide a distraction that is dangerous and leaves open a trash problem.

The downtown drinking district is in reality going to be a big bunch of nothing. The only time its really going to come into play is events like Pumpkinfest and the concerts on canal street. The law requires a police presence and cups labeled from the establishment the beverage was purchased from.

I am sure the Weirs will be next. They already do something similar for Wake the Lake and Biketemberfest. Both are fairly successful events with little trouble.

Much ado about nothing!

Woodsy

Wake the lake and Biketemberfest are private events managed and sponsored by one individual. The area is less than 50 yards long and held for a max of two evenings. The Weirs Zone is end to end with public docks in the middle. Many more details need to be made public and solutions identified before it can be implemented


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I don't attend, but I thought they closed the streets for Pumpkinfest?

The other places I’ve gone that have open container laws or areas, I.e., Key West, New Orleans) have other things going for them to entice you to buy a drink & walk around. I don’t see anything that would make people go to downtown Laconia, never mind buy a drink and walk around. The Weirds, maybe but it also needs to upgrade its entertainment & drinking establishments.

Outdoor ping-pong played on an all-weather table ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=cizX2zKuy_g .... could attract people to play, and people to watch the game.

From City of Kamloops (population 109,633), British Columbia, Canada ..... four years ago

That video really shows the crowd of shoppers gathering.

..... just picture spectators watching the ping-pong while sipping on an adult beverage.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np_aP1dWOy8 ..... NYC, two months ago

Laconia Parks & Recreation can position one table somewhere at the Weirs and a second table somewhere downtown. Players bring their own paddles and ping-pong balls.

Table can also see use as a 5'x9' table top for community events.

www.outdoorconcretegames.com ....... ping-pong

It would need to be permanent; and they are trying to introduce people moving around and buying things rather than spectating.

They want us to spend more money in the Downtown area whenever we "visit".

They can't have us loitering, as the parking isn't endless.
By walking around with our "drinks"; they see the opportunity for us to make further purchases.

So rather than sitting to finish the drink, the establishment frees up a space, and the patron possibly parts with more money while the same amount of time that the parking space is occupied.

Nearby Gilford has a Walmart, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Hannaford.

Laconia has the Saint Vincent thrift store.

Question: What's Laconia got to offer .......... ;)?

If Laconia gets two of these outdoor ping-pong tables, then Laconia will have two ping-pong go-to venues not available in Gilford ........ ;)!

Who knows ...... maybe Irwin Chevrolet can install a ping-pong table on their used car lot under a canopy as a way to get people to show up and maybe think about buying a car ..... ;) ..... that is not a Toyota.

I don't see ping pong as an attraction, but I agree that drinking alone won't draw much walk around business. Remember the Weirs in the 60's and 70's? Every night there was some sort of entertainment from the stage on top of the RR station. Band concerts, open mike, amateur night, etc. Lots of people walking around, in and out of shops and restaurants. Two bowling alleys, two dance halls, various boats to look over, including the Mount, and of course, train rides. Mostly gone now, but I have difficulty imagining how down town Laconia can do similar attractions for pedestrian traffic unless they close streets and/or have some sort of cruise night. Booze isn't the key all by itself.

The City went from an open mall concept during Urban Renewal into a walking mall concept. That failed.

So they returned to the open mall concept. Now they want to go back again?

Seems that with all the new blood in the leadership, they don't have a sense of history and the failures that came before.