The Bullpen Social District

About The Bullpen 

The Bullpen is downtown Durham’s social district, which allows people to purchase alcoholic drinks from ABC permittees in a designated cup and walk around outside within a defined area. The Bullpen went into effect on December 1, 2022.

What is a social district? 

In September 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly voted that cities and towns in North Carolina could create their own walkable drinking district with open cups of alcoholic beverages: a social district.  

• A social district is a defined area in which a person may consume an alcoholic beverage sold by an ABC permittee located within the social district.  
• A social district may include both indoor and outdoor areas of businesses within a defined area during the days and hours set by the local government.  
• A social district may include privately owned property, including permittees and non-permittee businesses, and multi-tenant establishments, as well as public streets, crosswalks, or parking areas whether the streets or parking areas are closed to vehicle traffic.  

Downtown Durham’s Social District Boundaries

View as an interactive Google map. 

Days and Hours of Operation 

The Bullpen operates from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. seven days a week. 

Participating Merchants

Window clings will be displayed at each business to indicate their participation in The Bullpen.

Businesses not listed here are not participating in the social district. It should be assumed that customers can neither order, nor enter with, a to-go drink at the establishment.

Businesses located within the Bullpen can submit their participation preference here to opt-in or opt-out of the district. 

A business can change its selection at any time by notifying DDI at [email protected]

City and County Property, Churches, and Schools 

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess an open container of malt beverage or unfortified wine on any property owned, occupied, or controlled by the City or County of Durham, including parking facilities, unless that property has been designated by the city or county as eligible for the consumption of alcohol under the rules of the social district and applicable state law. Any city or county properties designated as eligible will display signage accordingly.

Rules & Requirements

Downtown Durham’s Social District Rules 

The Bullpen meets the following requirements in accordance with North Carolina law and the City of Durham Ordinance:

•  Alcoholic beverages may be consumed in the social district from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
• No outside alcohol is permitted within the district.  
• All alcoholic beverages must be purchased from ABC permitted establishments located within the district and must be consumed within the district. 
• All alcoholic beverages must be disposed of before leaving the social district. 
• Upon leaving an establishment where an alcoholic beverage is purchased, the beverage must be consumed and/or the container discarded before entering a different business that serves alcohol, unless entering a business within the social district that allows outside alcoholic beverages to be brought inside the business. 
• The Bullpen boundary must be clearly defined with signage posted in conspicuous locations by the city. 
• Alcohol must be sold in designated containers that meet specific requirements, including:  
• no glass containers 
• containers include required wording and social district logo 
• containers are not larger than 16 oz. 
• ABC permittees can only sell alcohol on their licensed premises, not elsewhere in the social district. 
• All North Carolina ABC rules and regulations apply. 

ABC Permittee Requirements 

A permittee located and selling alcoholic beverages within the social district must meet the following requirements:

• Follow all ABC rules and regulations regarding selling alcoholic drinks. 
• Sell to-go alcoholic beverages during Bullpen hours of operation only (currently 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.) 
• Sell and serve to-go alcoholic beverages on its licensed premises only. 
• Sell to-go alcoholic beverages in a container that meets all the cup requirements (see below).
• Display a Bullpen window cling at all public entrances denoting participation in the social district. 
• Inform DDI promptly of any change in participation status. 
• Report any violations of the social district or ABC rules to [email protected]. 
• Complete a quarterly survey so that the managing entity can provide required data to the City of Durham. 
• Once registered with Downtown Durham, Inc., to participate, the ABC permittee will sign a one-page agreement to these rules above. 

Cup Requirements

The container for all to-go alcoholic beverages must meet all the following requirements:

• The cup clearly identifies the permittee from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased, and the date and time the beverage was served.  
• The cup has the Bullpen logo professionally printed on one side. 
• The cup displays the words: “Drink responsibly. Be 21” in minimum 12-point font. (The Bullpen logo includes these words.) 
• The cold cup is clear (see through). The hot cup is white. The cups cannot be made of glass. 
• The cup shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces (but it may hold less). 
• Follow all guidelines regarding the use of the Bullpen logo.

Patron Requirements

The possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a social district is subject to all of the following requirements of North Carolina law: 

• Only alcoholic beverages purchased from an ABC permittee located in the social district may be possessed and consumed. 
• Alcoholic beverages must: 
  • only be in designated social district containers. 
  • only be possessed and consumed during the days and hours set by the City of Durham 
• A single patron cannot be sold or delivered alcoholic beverage drinks more than: 
  • two alcoholic beverage drinks at one time of a malt beverage, unfortified wine, fortified wine. 
  • one alcoholic beverage at one time if an alcoholic beverage drink is a mixed beverage and contains spirituous liquor. 
• A person must dispose of any alcoholic beverage before exiting the social district  

Special Events 

When a special event held pursuant to the issuance of a special event permit, issued by the City of Durham, the terms of the special event permit supersede the provisions of this article within the boundaries of the special event. Any alcoholic beverages purchased within the boundaries of the special event may not be taken outside the special event boundary, even if the alcoholic beverage is to be taken from the boundary of the special event into the boundary of the social district. 

Downtown special events with an alcohol permit and selling and/or serving alcoholic beverages: Those beverages are NOT allowed to leave the special event boundary, even if the event is located within the Bullpen social district. 

It is the decision of the special event permit holder to choose whether to allow social district beverages to enter the special event boundary. That decision can be made when a person applies for the special event permit with the City of Durham.   

FAQS 

Additional Questions 

If you have other questions about the Bullpen, please email [email protected]. 

Feedback 

Tell us what you think about downtown Durham’s social district.