Montgomery enters first weekend after suspending open container ordinance downtown

Montgomery’s downtown entertainment district no longer allows visitors to walk around with alcoholic beverages, in response to last weekend’s mass shooting.

Licensed restaurants and bars in the district, which is near the riverfront, will continue to offer outdoor seating, and patrons may still enjoy alcoholic beverages within those areas. However, drinks must remain on the premises and cannot be taken into the street or other parts of the district.

City leaders voted unanimously Tuesday night to suspend the ordinance following the the mass shooting on Saturday night, October 4, which left two people dead and 12 others injured, some critically.

“Montgomery is a safe city, but the events of last weekend have led us to take a closer look at our open container ordinance,” Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement. “We owe it to our residents and visitors to ensure that our entertainment districts remain secure and vibrant.”

The City also reminds the public that loitering is not permitted in the downtown area. These measures are part of a broader effort to maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all who live, work and visit downtown Montgomery.

This change applies only to the downtown district. Montgomery’s other entertainment zones in Cottage Hill and Cloverdale remain unaffected.

In addition, the City Council also announced plans to explore a citywide youth curfew, with discussions scheduled for the October 17 Council Meeting.

“Montgomery has always shown strength in the face of adversity,” Mayor Reed added. “We will care for the victims and their families, and we will remain strong. Our city has a history of resilience, and we will continue moving downtown, our entire city, and our region forward—together.”

— Information from the City of Montgomery