CAIRO — The Cairo City Council unanimously adopted a new alcohol ordinance Monday night.

The ordinance makes several major alterations that change the ways alcohol can be consumed within city limits and allows for the creation of new types of businesses.

The 66-page ordinance, which has been tweaked throughout much of 2018, completely redesigns the existing city code regarding alcohol, scrapping all existing language and restructuring it entirely.

New to the ordinance is the inclusion of special events and tastings, functions which previously were not permitted in the city’s code of ordinances.

Fees to obtain alcohol licenses range as low as $25 per day for special events and beer and wine tastings.

The ordinance creates designated areas downtown and at the Grady Cultural Center where alcohol may be consumed legally outdoors in open containers during special events.

Alcohol consumed in approved areas must be in clear plastic containers no larger than 16 ounces which must be disposed of before leaving. Consumers must wear date-stamped wristbands provided by the alcohol dealer.

All alcohol event permit applications are required to be filed at least 30 days in advance.

Weddings or other events where alcohol is provided to guests with no expectation of payment are not required to apply for special event permits.

The ordinance also allows qualified restaurants to operate sidewalk cafes where alcohol may be consumed outdoors.

Sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will also be allowed on the premises of the Zebulon Theater and the Grady County Museum.

Hair and nail salons, bed and breakfast establishments and art studios may obtain licenses for serving alcohol so long as the beverages are provided free of charge.

Other provisions of the ordinance include allowing happy hour promotions during certain evening times in which alcoholic beverages can be sold at reduced prices.

Zoning provisions in the ordinance stipulate that breweries, facilities that manufacture more than 10,000 barrels of beer per year, may only be located in certain commercial and industrial zones. Wineries may only be located in agricultural zones.

Vaporized and powdered forms of alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in the ordinance, which exemptions made for items lawfully prescribed by doctors and research.

City clerk Carolyn Lee, who worked on the ordinance off and on throughout much of 2018, said at the formal introduction of the ordinance to the council Jan. 14 that she was comfortable with the finished product.

Lee said much of the language was based on existing state law.

“I tried to mirror state law as much as I could on anything new,” Lee said.

Lee, with input provided by city attorney Thomas Lehman, City Manager Chris Addleton and Police Chief Keith Sandefur and guidance from code enforcement, state law and the state Department of Revenue helped craft the ordinance beginning last year to replace the largely outdated language in the city code.

“Our ordinance had not been updated for many years,” Lee said. “I knew that there had been some changes in the state law that allowed some things that our ordinance did not allow.”

Lehman assisted Lee in editing the ordinance with the council providing guidance.

“I’d like to thank Ms. Carolyn for the hours and hours and hours that she’s put in this,” said Council member Jimmy Douglas. “When I’d ask a question it wasn’t a short answer. (I’d get) a long answer.”

A rough draft of the ordinance was presented to the city council Oct. 8 and sent back for revisions.

The finalized form of the ordinance was introduced to the council Jan. 14.