You may soon be able to drink adult beverages in public in this Myrtle Beach area town

Conway leaders may change the city’s alcohol consumption laws that would let people walk freely downtown while sipping adult beverages.

The last call may also be pulled back from 2 a.m. to midnight under the proposal.

“As we continue to expand and ask for short-term rentals, hotels to come into this area, there’s kind of a balance point you’re going to have versus people that are going to be asleep and people coming in for the nightlife,” Police Chief Dale Long told the City Council at a July 5 workshop where the idea was first brought up.

Devin Parks, economic development director at the Conway Chamber of Commerce, said his organization favors the concept.

“It fits with what we’re trying to see in our downtown area. We’re trying to get more livability, and if you want people living downtown, you want to provide them with as many options as possible,” he said. “I just think it supports commerce and development.:

Council members are expected to discuss the idea later this month. The zone would include parts of Third and Fourth avenues and downtown Main Street to Fifth Avenue — about 15 businesses in all, Parks said.

Right now, it’s illegal for people to have an open container in public unless they’re attending a permitted event such as the Rivertown Music and Beer Festival.

“A last call provision of midnight would extend the stated quiet time hours already in place within the noise ordinance, and serve to allow the mingling of residential and commercial with less noise-related issues an open business creates,” a description of the policy penned by the city says.

Conway would join other cities in taking such a step if the council agrees. On Tuesday, Raleigh got its first “social drinking district” that covers some of its major venues including the city’s convention center and Duke Energy.

Parks pointed to other “progressive downtowns” like Savannah and Wilmington, N.C., where similar consumption laws are in place.

Conway Mayor Barbara Blain Bellamy said the dual proposals would be “mutually beneficial” to those in town for social occasions and year-round residents.

This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.