Gulfport, MS Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 5-229 creates two "Leisure and Recreation Districts" under authority granted by Section 1 of House Bill 1223 from the 2016 legislative session: the Bayou Bernard Social District and the Downtown North Social District, both mapped by exhibits on file with the city. Inside those boundaries, a patron, guest or member of an on-premises retail alcohol permittee may remove an open container of alcoholic beverage or wine from the licensed premises and carry and consume it anywhere within the district, subject to real limits. A person cannot enter a licensed premises already carrying an alcoholic beverage from elsewhere.

The permittee may only let drinks leave in a paper, styrofoam or plastic cup no larger than 16 fluid ounces, or a capped container up to one gallon; cans, bottles and glass containers cannot leave the premises. No patron may exit with more than one open container at a time, and it is unlawful for a patron to do so even if the permittee allows it. Permittees inside the districts must post a map of the district boundaries at every exit, provided by the city on request.

Light wine and beer specifically cannot leave in glass containers or bottles at all, only in paper or plastic cups under the same size limits. Participation is not mandatory: nothing in the ordinance requires a permittee to let patrons remove drinks from the premises even if the location sits inside district boundaries. The ordinance derives from Ord. No. 3028 and Ord. No. 3029, both adopted in April 2020.