Social districts could appear on ballot this November, following public hearing Sept. 22

LACONIA — Voters may have an opportunity to decide on so-called “social districts” by way of a ballot question in the General Election in November. 

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 467 into law in July, permitting adults to purchase alcoholic beverages and drink them outside of typical drinking establishments in specially designated areas of town known as “social districts.” The law took effect Sept. 5.

It’s enabling legislation, meaning the City of Laconia’s council can vote to include it on the November ballot. Alternatively, a petition signed by at least 5% of registered voters in the city could see the question included on the ballot during the General Election.

If the question was included on the ballot and approved by Laconia’s voters, city councilors would be able to set the parameters of the program. 

“It allows legislative bodies, if approved by the voters of the city or town, depending on where you are, on ballot form, to allow us to define social districts. A social district would be an area where you’re allowed to purchase alcohol from a licensee,” City Manager Kirk Beattie said at the council meeting on Monday night.

The question will be brought up for a public hearing at the end of September and, if approved by councilors, would appear on the ballot in November.

Councilors set a public hearing date of Monday, Sept. 22, during the city council meeting at 7 p.m. downtown at City Hall. 

“I think this is a good idea,” Ward 3 Councilor Eric Hoffman said Monday night. “I think the unique layout we have of downtown, the events we already have on Canal Street and Main Street, Pumpkinfest every year. I think there’s a lot of good opportunities to utilize this. I think our city is the exact kind of thing this was passed to promote.”

Ward 5 Councilor Steven Bogert brought the legislation to the attention of the broader council at their meeting on Aug. 25, noting he’d enjoyed spending time on Canal and Main streets during outdoor celebrations there, like a recent car show, and thought the creation of social districts could be a benefit to businesses, visitors and residents alike. 

“I, too, think this is a marvelous opportunity, seeing how we’re a tourist district area. We have a lot of people that come here, we want to encourage people to come and leave their money behind and then go home,” Bogert said Monday night. “We love that aspect of it.” 

Downtown businesses owners may support the idea, according to one prominent one. 

“I would just like to request that you consider putting the social districts — we could have drinking outside establishments in current areas — and I think it just passed New Hampshire a couple of days ago,” Kristin Bastille, owner of Defiant Records & Craft Beer and The Candy Bar downtown, said. “We’re looking to hopefully get it on the ballot for the people to maybe give us the OK for the future for Pumpkinfest and the car shows and everything going on downtown.”

Bastille said she believes the owners of other downtown businesses like Local Eatery and Hector’s Fine Food & Spirits would be in support of the initiative.

“Maybe downtown being a social district,” Bastille said. “We have been serving alcohol on Canal Street for the past three years and we have not had any problems, I feel like most everyone has been responsible so I just hope to get it on the ballot to maybe bring more life downtown in the future.” 

Open liquor is already allowed under certain circumstances in the City of Laconia. 

“They do this on Canal Street a lot,” Beattie said. “It’s individual, case-by-case, gets approved by [the fire department], by [the liquor commission]. This would give a little bit more of a blanket ability to do this. Again, this goes to the voters to make the decision on if they want it on there.”