Happy Hour: Open Containers Now Allowed in Bellevue, Kentucky Entertainment District

Bellevue, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, is the latest city to follow in the footsteps on Las Vegas and New Orleans in allowing alcoholic beverages in the public realm.

1 minute read

November 29, 2019, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Ohio River

Land of liberal open container laws. | Wholtone / Wikimedia Commons

"Fairfield Avenue will be merrier and brighter this holiday season with adults now legally allowed to carry their alcoholic beverages in a designated area of the sidewalk, and from bar to bar," reports Emily Hanford-Ostmann.

Bellevue, Kentucky is opening its new entertainment district to public consumption just in time for the traditional post-Thanksgiving parties. In Bellevue's case, there's also an annual Christmas Walk.

"Bellevue joins cities like Hamilton and Milford in creating designated districts where bar and restaurant customers can take a stroll while drinking a beer or cocktail," according to Hanford-Onstmann. Other cities with similarly post-Puritan drinking laws documented by Planetizen over the years include Covington (also notably located on the same side of the river in the same region) as well as cities in Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Alabama.

In Bellevue, as in the other examples, supporters of the idea how to lure visitors to the area, with these public drinking laws amounting to a tool of economic development.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019 in WCPO

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing