Airport to allow open carry of alcohol starting March 1
Open carry of alcoholic beverages will come to Memphis International Airport on March 1.
Airport officials have secured beer and liquor licenses to allow people to consume adult beverages in concourses and gates after passing through security checkpoints.
Airport chief Scott Brockman said Thursday the new rule will allow passengers to buy drinks at restaurants and consume at their leisure, rather than having to gulp them down inside the establishments.
Airport lawyers have been working since 2015 on getting concourses designated as open carry areas. Under existing rules passengers can only consume alcoholic beverages inside restaurants.
Memphis is following the lead of Nashville International Airport,
which has allowed travelers to take beverages outside restaurants since 2013.
Concessions selling alcoholic beverages will include Sam Adams, Sun Studio, Home Team Sports, Ciao, Interstate BBQ and HMSHost Food Cycle.
Memphis had standardized cups designed for concessionaires to use, so that authorities can easily keep tabs on alcohol consumption. The clear, 12- and 16ounce cups have a Memphis airport logo on one side and the selling establishment’s name on the other side.
Brockman said it’s part of an effort to become a more customer-friendly airport.
It also might boost sales for restaurants, he said.
He envisions the policy change will enable such concierge services as vendors taking passenger’s drink orders as they wait in hold rooms at gates.
Brockman said airline policy would determine if a drink could be carried onto a flight.