A proposal to allow restaurant patrons to carry alcoholic beverages around Marietta Square was poured down the drain by Mayor Steve Tumlin, as he vetoed the measure at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

Tumlin vetoed the measure after it passed 5-1-1, with Councilmen Grif Chalfant opposing and Joseph Goldstein abstaining. Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson, who brought the measure forward for a vote, then called for another vote to override Tumlin’s veto. That measure failed 4-2-1, with Councilman Johnny Walker joining Chalfant in his dissent and Goldstein abstaining once again.

The proposal, which was on its second reading at the May 8 meeting, would have created an open-container district where patrons can carry out alcoholic drinks from restaurants within a designated area for a six-month period on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Marietta's district would have included the popular square with its shops, restaurants and bars.

Containers carried from restaurants would have been in clear, plastic cups no larger than 12 ounces, and customers would have been prohibited from taking more than one cup at a time. Open containers would have been barred from public streets and sidewalks, trails, parks or any public place.

Tumlin said he vetoed the measure because he felt Marietta Square is known for its family-friendly vibe and allowing open containers “would have the potential” of disrupting that atmosphere.

David Reardon, owner of Shillings on the Square, tells WSB’s Michelle Wright he would like to see the proposal passed. “A lot of the merchants would like to see it passed,” Reardon says. “It costs a lot of money to be a small business and be in business.”

He adds, “I think it’s kind of a non-issue truthfully. I rarely get a request for anyone to take a drink to go.”

Reardon says he does not fully understand the mayor’s veto: “I don’t know what the reasoning behind it is.

“We don’t have a rowdy square or rowdy establishment.”

Reardon also points out, “We have open containers for any city function.

“Anything that that city backs like our ‘Art in the Park’ on Labor Day Weekend, Fourth of July, etc. -- we have open containers.”

RELATED | Open-container law for Marietta Square may get second look

Chalfant said the proposal would have opened the door for teenagers to begin collecting the plastic cups used by restaurants for open containers and filling them with alcohol to drink on the Square.

Richardson, who was asked by downtown merchants to consider bringing the measure forward, rejected that argument, adding teenagers would drink alcohol from bottles they already own.

She also said city leaders don’t have a problem with allowing residents to drink “to their heart’s content” at city-sponsored events such as the Glover Park Concert Series and Taste of Marietta.

The councilwoman said she didn’t believe the open container proposal would result in scores of people rushing to Marietta Square just to drink.

“If you just wanted to drink and party, you would head to The Battery,” Richardson said.

Marietta would have become the fifth city in Cobb to enact an ordinance. Smyrna, Kennesaw, Powder Springs and Acworth all have entertainment districts.

Information from The Atlanta Journal Constitution was used in this story. 

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