COVINGTON, Ky. - Visitors attending the BLINK public art event the next four nights should be aware of rules governing alcohol consumption in public, City of Covington officials say.

 

"We've gotten some calls, so we think a friendly reminder would be helpful," City Solicitor Michael Bartlett said.

 

As part of BLINK itself, alcohol will be sold at two "hospitality areas" within Covington, which are located on two streets that will be closed to traffic during the event - on Seventh Street between Madison Avenue and Washington Street, and on RiverCenter Boulevard between Scott Street and a point just east of Madison Avenue.

 

But alcohol cannot be taken outside of those marked-off areas, Bartlett said.

 

"In other words, you can't walk from BLINK attraction to BLINK attraction with an open container," he said. "In that way, it's no different than what happens at other festivals in Covington, where alcohol consumption is confined to certain spaces."

 

Of course, visitors can patronize many of Covington's unique bars and restaurants in and around downtown.

 

Bartlett said the geographic boundaries for the "hospitality areas" were set by the Special Event Permit sought by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber on behalf of BLINK. In this case, the application also triggered Covington's "Entertainment Destination Center License," which allows the sale and consumption of alcohol in those areas, provided that requirements regarding security and protection for pedestrians were met.

 

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