Athens City Council expands DORA hours for summer of 2023

Athens City Council voted to expand DORA hours at its meeting on Oct. 4 for the 2023 summer season.

Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORA) allow Athens’ residents and visitors over the age of 21 to purchase and carry alcoholic beverages within a defined area of Court Street, according to the Athens DORA website. DORA boundaries are clearly marked using street stickers and signs, giving a clear indication into where participants can be.

DORA customers are able to purchase and carry drinks along North Court Street and down Union Street. Photo from the Athens DORA website.

The program, which started last year, only runs during the summer months beginning May 5 and ending on Aug. 15. In its first year, DORA was only available Thursday through Sunday at varying times. City council has made a move to extend DORA throughout the week because of the success it has achieved so far. Customers will be able to purchase DORA drinks Monday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m., alongside the original hours.

The majority of bars within the DORA perimeter participated in the program last summer, along with a number of retail stores which allowed shoppers to drink while they shopped. 

When asked about the public’s response to the program, Athens City Councilmember Sam Crowl noted that it has been unexpectedly positive.

“In fact, it’s one of the few things that we’ve done in council that hasn’t seemed to have gotten much criticism at all,” Crowl said. “We were a little bit worried that there would be members of the City of Athens who would find problems with expanded drinking in the downtown area, but it’s been, from what we’ve heard from businesses, a good economic incentive.”

It is suspected Athens’ DORA led to an increase in tourism profit during the summer months when the economy usually dips because of a lack of students, according to Crowl. This was especially evident during city events over the summer months, including the Athens Arts and Music Festival in August.

“Jackie O’s, for example, was able to serve DORA cups right out of their sort of side window onto the sidewalk and that had a large line,” Crowl said.

The success of the program encouraged council to extend its hours to the entire week, which council was initially hesitant to do because of uncertainty regarding responses from Athenians. The extended hours makes it easier for vendors to sell drinks during events that do not occur on weekends, like antique car shows which are often held on Tuesday nights.

The only real pushback Crowl and other councilmembers noticed was in regard to the cups being used. Anyone who participates in DORA must have a specific DORA cup, which were originally made from plastic. This made many Athenians concerned about the environmental impact the program would have, so council decided to switch to recyclable aluminum ones.

Crowl was doubtful that DORA would be expanded to the fall, winter and spring.

“When the students are here, we have lots of shoppers, lots of people that are keeping our town alive, but in the summer months it gets a little quieter,” Crowl explained. “And so this is an idea to try to boost the economy and tourism during the summer, so it’ll still end in August.”

Signs indicate to customers where DORA drinks can be purchased and where they are permitted. Photo from the Athens DORA website.