Daily Herald opinion: Sip and stroll? Arlington Heights should proceed with caution for pilot program allowing to-go cocktails in alfresco area

When Arlington Heights officials recently brought up a pilot program allowing Arlington Alfresco patrons to stroll the outdoor dining area downtown with a beer or a cocktail, two images popped to mind.

In the first, we pictured quaint lakefront vacation towns in Michigan where relaxed couples sip pinot grigio as they take in the views and check out the shops.

In the second, we jumped to images of New Orleans, where raucous tourists with rum-filled Hurricanes in hand party day and night on Bourbon Street.

We trust Arlington Heights officials to create a vision that supports the former — and to erect necessary guardrails to banish all visions of the latter. But they should proceed with caution, and monitor the results before making the program permanent.

Plans under discussion call for a “social district,” where people could enjoy a drink from participating and licensed spots within the boundaries of the Arlington Alfresco outdoor dining area on certain nights. They wouldn’t be allowed to take drinks outside the zone.

As our Chris Placek explained in a recent story about the possible pilot program, the concept is in place in a couple suburban towns, but it was popularized in Michigan, where 144 towns allow to-go beverages in their downtowns, officials said.

The idea came from Trustee Tom Schwingbeck, who saw the practice in Saugatuck and St. Joseph a couple years ago. He is suggesting that Arlington Heights allow alcohol sales in the alfresco zone during Sounds of Summer concerts on Thursday nights, as well as on Friday and Saturday nights between 5 and 9 p.m.

Assistant Village Manager Diana Mikula assured trustees that the village would add signage and markers at all entrance and exit points to clarify where cocktails are allowed, and where they are not.

Not everyone is on board, however. Trustee Robin LaBedz raised concerns about underage drinking, trash littering the streets and people bringing in their own liquor instead of buying it from businesses. Those are legitimate concerns, and ones that should be addressed before a decision is made. Requiring wrist bands verifying that patrons are at least 21 is one option on the table, and there are others.

In addition, trustees should examine whether arrests or ticketing for intoxication have been problems in the past, and track whether that changes during the pilot program. Ditto for complaints from those who live in the downtown and whose experiences could help guide future decisions.

We look forward to seeing additional details soon. In the meanwhile, we will be channeling Michigan vacation vibes over any fleeting visions of Bourbon Street.