New health order limits alcohol consumption in downtown Nashville

Brinley Hineman
Nashville Tennessean

Mayor John Cooper announced a new health order Friday afternoon that prohibits the consumption of alcohol outside a permitted area in downtown Nashville and Midtown.

The new health order goes into effect Saturday at 5 p.m. and will prohibit the consumption of alcohol outside an establishment like a bar or restaurant. This comes after interim Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake said Friday at a news conference that officers had observed people drinking alcohol on sidewalks and outside of Broadways businesses.

The order also prohibits:

  • Any sale of alcohol by a restaurant except when sold for consumption on premises or for off-premises delivery
  • Any sale of alcohol by a limited service or restaurant or bar except when sold for off-premises delivery
  • All curbside and to-go sales of alcoholic beverages.

The new health rules only apply to certain parts of Nashville. The Demonbreun, Elliston and Division Streets areas of Midtown are affected, as well as Lower Broadway and the Gulch. 

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.