Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA)

What is it?

In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed new legislation authorizing the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority (Virginia ABC) to create a new license called the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). In the past, if an event downtown wanted to have any alcoholic drinks served to guests, the hosting entity would need to apply for a Special Events License and serve their drinks in a fenced-in area. Through the Downtown revitalization process, we’ve seen many new businesses open downtown including many restaurants, breweries, and businesses serving alcohol, and we wanted our events to help support and strengthen these new businesses instead of compete with them.

The DORA License, which Downtown Wytheville has secured, allows us to designate pre-approved zones of the downtown district as “open container zones” where patrons can purchase drinks from businesses with an active ABC license in the district and carry that drink outside throughout the zone and into other retail establishments in the zone if authorized by those business owners. There are limits and rules surrounding this license including when it is active and how people can interact. Still, overall this license further emphasizes the transformation our community has seen towards an active downtown full of exciting new businesses, ample events, and a vibrant social scene.

DORA Rules

When is this active?
- Our DORA License can only be activated up to 16 times per year for no more than 1-3 consecutive days each time. When we gain approval to activate one of these uses, the date and time the DORA license is in effect will be publicized on our social media and other public places.
Where is this active?
- Downtown Wytheville’s DORA License has 3 different zones that can be activated. Zone 1 covers Main Street from 5th to 4th Streets along with some side streets, Zone 2 covers 7 Dogs Brewpub and Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park, and Zone 3 covers Withers Park. Zone 1 is the most commonly activated area though and encompasses most events and our main ABC-serving locations. Whenever a zone is identified for an event, you’ll notice clear signage designating the ends of these active zones. Open-container drinks are not allowed beyond the boundaries of these zones.
- If the event in question involves a street closure, drinks are permitted in all public places within the boundary. If the event does not have a street closure then the license is only in effect on pedestrian areas like sidewalks and pavilions.
- You may also carry drinks into non-ABC locations downtown within the active Zone if that business owner allows it; however, they reserve the right not to allow open containers in their business.
- You cannot bring another ABC location’s drinks into another ABC-serving location.
Where can I purchase drinks?
- You must purchase any drinks from an authorized ABC-serving location in the activated Zone. Zone 1, includes Petals Wine Bar, Seven Sisters Brewery, Graze on Main, Moon Dog Brick Oven, and the Millwald Theatre. No outside drinks not purchased at these locations are allowed.
How can I request an Open Container drink at my favorite restaurant or brewery?
- Participating businesses in the active zone may sell you any drink, but it must be served in a plastic cup displaying that business’ logo.
What other rules apply?
- All normal ABC rules apply at each business and ABC-serving locations are responsible for complying with all rules in serving customers. Law enforcement and Downtown volunteers will be present in any activated DORA Zone and we ask that you please enjoy responsibly as laws surrounding public intoxication and other unacceptable behavior will be enforced by local law enforcement.
- Downtown Wytheville strives for all our events to be a true family-friendly community event, so even when a DORA license may be in effect, alcohol is never meant to be the focus of our events. This is just another way to enjoy all that Downtown Wytheville has to offer while supporting local businesses; however, we ask that anyone attending our events enjoy responsibly and be conscious of ensuring our community events are enjoyable for everyone.