Patrons will soon be able to purchase alcoholic beverages from some Oswego restaurants, and carry and consume them in other areas of the city.

The city recently approved a new social district which lifts the open container law in a part of the city from June 1 through October 1.

Patrick Mitchell, the owner of Southern Fare restaurant, is pretty talented when it comes to making a unique cocktail. The Oswego native has been serving up drinks and southern cuisine in the Port City since last year.

He said while business has been good, it can always be better. That’s why he fully supports Oswego’s recently approved social district.

“It’s an awesome way to kind of link all of these areas that Mayor Barlow and all of his councilors have really worked so hard on the past four, five, six years,” said Mitchell.

Beginning June 1, the open container law will be lifted within a roughly three-quarter mile area from Oneida Street to Lake Ontario through Breitbeck Park. Pubs and restaurant’s within the zone, which extends from West 2nd to East 4th streets, will be able to serve drinks that customers 21 and up can take with them to consume in other locations in the district.

This will be in effect daily from noon to 10:00 p.m. until October 1. Mayor Billy Barlow believes the social district will attract people downtown.

Barlow said the Social District idea stems from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s temporary legalization of alcohol to-go through 2025 in New York. He said Oswego is the first municipality in Central New York to create a social district.

While you won’t be able to get a drink at one restaurant and bring it into another that serves alcohol, you will be allowed to bring it with you to outdoor events.

As long as it's in the properly designated clear cup, you’ll also be able to bring it into other businesses that don’t serve alcohol if they allow it.

“It makes sense to allow people to dine downtown, and then, if they want to head downtown to the many concert series we have or see one of Oswego’s famous sunsets or visit our revived waterfront area, they can do that and take a drink to go,” Barlow said.

He said things will be closely monitored by authorities to ensure people are following the rules. He said the potential pros outweigh the cons.

“There’s a whole lot of energy in Oswego right now, and we’re just trying to come up with new ideas to get people here to experience it. Because I truly believe if they come here once and see all that’s going on in the community right now, they’re more apt to come back and visit again,” said Barlow.

Mitchell couldn’t agree more.

“People are starting to move around. More people are starting to be out and with all that, with all the city events and with the Social District, we think this is going to be a great summer for us,” he said.