Muncie considering ‘designated outdoor refreshment areas’ around social hot spots

The Muncie City Council is considering an ordinance that would create “designated outdoor refreshment areas” in three parts of the city.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, officials hope it will benefit the city economically.

Designated outdoor refreshment areas, known as DORAs, were created by a state law.  Muncie wants to create three zones – one in downtown, one in the Village, and one in the McKinley neighborhood surrounding Elm Street Brewing.

Council attorney Dan Gibson says a DORA is “where patrons can leave one establishment and have an open container of alcohol and walk within the district to another establishment or to stay within that area.”

The open containers of alcohol must be clear and include a specific sticker.  Required street signs will let people know the area is an open container area.

The ordinance includes maps of the three proposed DORAs.  These maps were not shown publicly at Monday night’s city council meeting and were not available online by Tuesday afternoon.

The Yorktown Town Council approved this DORA in August 2023 and it was approved by the state. (Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission)

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and the council members sponsoring the ordinance say both the Muncie Police Department and Ball State University Police Department are already patrolling the areas and don’t see a problem with the DORA designation.  They say all other rules governing alcohol consumption stay in place.

The ordinance didn’t pass its introductory vote unanimously.  Councilmen Jeff Green and Jerry Dishman had concerns about public drunkenness around families also using the areas.

As Green put it, “I’ve talked to a Ball State student concerning this.  Ball State student told me they will absolutely love to come downtown, because they can drink and run all over the place, and do whatever they want in the evenings.”

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Because it’s a state program, if Muncie okays three DORA districts, the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission will need to approve the move.  Then, businesses wanting to take part in the program will need to apply with the city Board of Works for a special license.

Each city is allowed seven DORA zones by state law.

The ordinance is up for its second reading in November.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.