New Hampshire Becomes 9th State to Legalize Drinking in Public – What Towns are Legal?

I feel like the people of New Hampshire have not talked about or celebrated enough the new law that legalizes drinking alcoholic beverages in public. This is a sweet concept, and certain cities and towns absolutely should, and shouldn't, legalize it in their streets.

Is Public Drinking Legal in New Hampshire?

According to a Concord Monitor article, last month, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 467 into law, legalizing adults purchasing to-go alcoholic drinks from bars and restaurants and enjoying them while walking through designated public zones known as “social districts.”

The fun way of saying it is “sip and stroll” areas...and how brilliant! I cannot tell you how many times I have been downtown Portsmouth, NH, with my wife, who desperately wanted to walk around, but I have been at the dinner table with one last beer.

Now, if legalized in Portsmouth, I can get the beer to go, and enjoy the rest of the date night walking with my woman, and sipping a cold one simultaneously.

But, as with most things, there is a catch.

The law that goes into effect on September 5, 2025, will require cities and towns in New Hampshire to enact the new law into effect in their own "social districts." In other words, just because it is legal does not mean people can walk down any street in NH with an open can of beer.

the proposal must appear on the warrant of an annual town meeting. In cities, the legislative body may place it on the ballot during a regular municipal election or by citizen petition, signed by at least 5% of registered voters.

There are certain areas that feel like "no-brainers" to me when I think of the legalization of this...like Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I would also say Newmarket, Exeter, North Conway, and Concord (which has already started pushing for the legalization of their social districts).