In September 2021, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law House Bill 890 (HB 890) – ABC Omnibus Legislation – which passed both the House and Senate with bi-partisan support. Included in HB 890 was a provision allowing local governments to create social districts in North Carolina.
A social district is a defined area in which a person may consume alcoholic beverages sold by an ABC permittee located within the social district in a defined area during the days and hours set by the local government in creating the social district.
Thursday 5pm – 10pm,
Friday 5pm – 10pm,
Saturday 12pm – 10pm
Signs are in place to assist you. Please dispose of any alcohol before leaving the designated areas.
No. Drinks must be consumed from Washington Downtown Social District cups received at the drink purchase location. Each ABC permitted business will label the cup with the required Washington Downtown Social District logo & business name or logo.
No. All alcoholic beverages must be purchased from ABC-permitted establishments located within the Washington Downtown Social District, carried in the approved cup, and must be consumed within the District.
Thursday 5pm – 10pm, Friday 5pm – 10pm, Saturday 12pm – 10pm
No. Look for the “Washington Downtown Social District” sticker at the door/window. ABC-permitted establishments will advertise if they sell social district drinks. Check the sticker in the retailer’s window to see if beverages are allowed inside of the establishment.
The boundary of the Washington Downtown Social District will have signs posted. Please see the map above for where to expect signs at the boundary of the District.
All alcohol in open containers must be disposed of before exiting the District or entering a vehicle.
No. You must dispose of your Washington Downtown Social District cup prior to entering a business or location that holds an ABC permit.
Some retail shops will allow you to bring your drink inside their store, please check the window of the store for a “Participating” or “Non-Participating” sticker.
You can dispose of your Social District cup in any trash can on the street, or trash cans provided for use by the public within a business. Should you choose to save your cup as a souvenir, all liquid inside of it must be disposed of before leaving Social District boundaries.
Please contact the Washington Police Department at 252-946-1444
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, The Washington Harbor District Alliance is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.
Washington is a North Carolina Main Street community, designated by the N.C. Department of Commerce Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The Washington Harbor District Alliance is charged with administering the program at the local level and building public-private partnerships to spur economic development that achieves measurable results such as investment, business growth, and job creation.
