Possessing an open container or public consumption of alcohol is not allowed in the West Seventh Street entertainment district as of Nov. 18, Fort Worth officials announced Monday.
The City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 8 to prohibit open containers and public consumption in an effort to limit underage drinking.
The offense is a Class C misdemeanor. Fines can be up to $500.
From January through October of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, the West Seventh area experienced a 15% increase in overall crime and an 8% increase in public intoxication arrests.
For 2022, about 12% of the total criminal offenses in the area involve alcohol.
The new ordinance is in effect for an area bounded by University Drive and Carroll Street on the west, Fifth and Weisenberger streets on the north, the railroad tracks on the east and Lancaster Avenue on the south.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/TS462AHOYNEJPCK6FYUUG2OMB4.JPG&description=Fort+Worth+bans+public+alcohol+consumption+as+of+Nov.+18+in+entertainment+district){kind=link}