Ohio Bike Week's drinking dilemma

SANDUSKY — Call it a cocktail conundrum when talking about Ohio Bike Week and legally allowing people to consume adult beverages outside in downtown Sandusky. First, some context. Less than a year ago, city commissioners approved what's called a designated outdoor refreshment area, which allows people to consume alcoholic beverages within an imaginary boundary encompassing downtown. The law, often called "DORA," allows people to purchase a drink, such as beer or wine, from a business, leave that particular establishment and walk around on public property within this area's confines. People, however, can't travel into another establishment with a "DORA" beverage bought elsewhere. And now, the problem. This year marks the first time Ohio Bike Week occurs with a designated outdoor refreshment area law in effect, which is creating some complexities and confusion. During the block party, and because of its special liquor license, Ohio Bike Week is actually treated like a business and not an event. Thus the outdoor drinking law and subsequent rules kick in for bike week. Most notably, someone leaving a downtown-based brick-and-mortar restaurant or bar can't bring an alcoholic drink within Ohio Bike Week's event zone, which overlaps with Sandusky's designated outdoor refreshment area. It's a similar philosophy to people prohibited from traveling into a business with a drink bought from a different establishment. Over the past few days, bar owners expressed concerns about possibly losing out on money because of these rules. Many claimed it denied them an opportunity to benefit from downtown's largest festival, attracting thousands of people. Realizing the plight, "The city and Ohio Bike Week have been discussing options to relocate the event area to the northern edge of downtown so that there are fewer conflicts with the existing (designated outdoor refreshment) area," according to a Friday city posting on its social media site. Quite possibly, this means all Ohio Bike Week activities occur pretty much on Sandusky's shoreline and not in traditional spots, such as along Market Street and within the Jackson Street parking lot. "Ohio Bike Week's organizers have been working tirelessly to make that happen and have submitted a request to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control to modify the (event's normal) liquor permit so that it only encompasses the area north of Water Street," the posting read. "Pending state approval, this would allow most of the (designated outdoor refreshment) area to function as normal, and the city would not suspend the (designated outdoor refreshment area law)." Anyone found in violation of breaking Sandusky's designated outdoor refreshment area law could face misdemeanor charges. No final decisions have been made as of Sunday. A decision on what will occur should happen in the days leading up to Ohio Bike Week's block party, June 2-5.