On Tuesday, the Walnut Creek City Council is set to talk about establishing an entertainment zone.
The move is in response to Senate Bill 969 which allows cities to establish an “entertainment zone” which allows patrons to purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed vendors and consume them in public spaces – supporting restaurant and bars. Various cities, including San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Santa Monica have all found success with an entertainment zone.
According to the staff report, the proposed ordinance requires that Entertainment Zones are created via the Management Plan that would need to be brought forward by a non-profit project sponsor for approval by City Council. Entertainment Zones would allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages provided to-go by certain existing businesses, within the public right-of-way, as summarized below:
- Participating businesses with an active ABC license can opt in to participate in the Entertainment Zone, pursuant to the Management Plan and WCMC Chapter 7-4. Businesses that participate in the Entertainment Zone will be identified as “eligible businesses.”
- Eligible businesses would need to sign an agreement with the project sponsor and confirm participation qualifications with ABC prior to becoming eligible to participate in the Entertainment Zone.
- Customers can purchase an alcoholic beverage from an eligible business.
- The server of the eligible business will verify the legal age of the customer and confirm they are 21 years old or older. The customer will be provided with a wristband to be worn on the wrist before the beverage is served and taken outside.
- The eligible business will serve the alcoholic beverage within a container that is not a metal can or a glass container.
- The customer will be required to wear the wristband while consuming the beverage within the public right-of-way and shall show the wristband and/or legal identification to confirm age over 21 to any police, security, or ambassador.
- The customer cannot enter any other business, whether an eligible business or not, with the alcoholic beverage until it is fully consumed.
- The customer shall consume or dispose of the alcoholic beverage completely before leaving the boundaries of the Entertainment Zone
If approved, the Entertainment Zone would be allowed to operate seven days a week, authorized Friday through Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., so long as at least one licensee within the boundaries of the Entertainment Zone is permitted to sell alcoholic beverages during those hours for consumption on the premises.
A business’s respective alcohol license type conditions the type of alcoholic beverages it may sell or allow consumption of on its premises. Should an Entertainment Zone ordinance be approved, it would allow beer, wine, and/or distilled spirits to be consumed outside of a business but within the Entertainment Zone Eligible businesses must serve the beverage within
their approved alcohol boundary, then provide a to-go container to allow patrons to drink the beverage within the Entertainment Zone boundaries. Businesses cannot deliver alcoholic beverages to consumers located within the Entertainment Zone.
Location of Operation
Subject to all other applicable requirements, the Downtown Walnut Creek Entertainment Zone may operate within the entire area permitted by Municipal Code Sec. Downtown Walnut Creek Locust/N. Main Streets between Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Civic Drive, and Bonanza/Cypress Streets between N. California Blvd./N. Broadway.
If You Go
Walnut Creek City Council meeting
April 21, 2026
6:00 pm: Regular Meeting
1666 N Main St, Walnut Creek
Full Agenda: Click Here
Related
- April 2025 – Bill Allows Downtowns to Establish “Hospitality Zones” to Extend Last Call on Weekends and Holidays
- Dec 2024 – ABC: New Alcoholic Beverage Laws
- Jan 2024 – Bill Would Create Entertainment Zones
