Atlantic City Considers Booze On The Boardwalk
By David Madden
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (CBS) -- Atlantic City is pondering an ordinance to allow people to carry alcoholic drinks on the boardwalk.
The idea is up for first reading at tonight's council meeting.
The city wants to try out the idea this summer on a section of the boardwalk between Tropicana and Resorts. The plan would allow for sales of alcohol in specially marked plastic cups.
"There are people who are against alcohol altogether," Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, sponsor of the legislation, tells KYW Newsradio. "So they don't want to see any alcohol in Atlantic City which is a position that I support and understand but it's not the reality of our situation. Then there are people who say that we need to do creative and innovative things to increase tourism and bring more people to Atlantic City and I understand that."
If given final approval next month, police would enforce the regulation, which would be re-evaluated after the summer season.
"We're going to monitor it and see how it impacts business. We're going to monitor it and see how it impacts public safety," Shabazz said. "And at the end of the summer we'll evaluate it and make a determination as to whether we should go forward, whether we should modify it or whether we should scrap it altogether."
It's hoped the plan would be up and running in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
Shabazz admits there are ardent supporters and detractors, but given Atlantic City's situation, the idea's at least worth a try.