City officials roll out designated outdoor drinking zones in downtown Denver
Jun 2, 2025, 4:49 PM | Updated: Jun 3, 2025, 10:43 am
Until this weekend, if you took an adult beverage out of an establishment in downtown Denver and continued drinking it while you walked somewhere else, you could’ve been in trouble with the law, but that has changed in certain places.
City officials rolled out designated outdoor drinking zones along Glenarm Place near 16th Street in downtown Denver this weekend.
The pilot initiative is designed to reinvigorate the struggling downtown corridor. Under the plan, customers who buy sealed to-go drinks from one of six participating businesses can carry and consume those beverages within designated zones along Glenarm Place.
Open containers are prohibited outside these areas, particularly on the nearby 16th Street Mall, where violations could result in citations.
The new drinking zones will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with extended hours during some special events.
To maintain public safety and order, the zones will be patrolled by officers already assigned to the downtown area under Mayor Mike Johnston’s Safety Action Plan. No additional officers will be deployed specifically for the initiative.
City officials emphasized that bringing your own alcohol or entering retail stores along 16th Street with a drink in hand is prohibited. Signage and furniture installations are underway to help mark the zones and educate the public.
The city already allows full-strength beer and wine in parks.
