Outdoor drinking in effect in downtown Springfield; brewery offering first round of cups

Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company has become the first bar in downtown Springfield to offer DORA cups.

The brewery posted a photo of the cups on its Facebook page with the caption, “Just in time!”

The DORA, or Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, allows people to move throughout certain areas in downtown Springfield with open containers of alcohol in designated cups that are provided by permit holders.

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People with those cups can go anywhere with them within the specified DORA parameters. The boundaries extend as far north as Station 1 bar, as far west as Wittenberg Avenue, east until Spring Street and as far south as Monroe Street.

Valeria Lough, Community Information Coordinator for the City of Springfield, said while the DORA is exciting for the city, it’s important to remember who and who is not participating.

“Places within the DORA can decide whether or not they want to participate. Even though they are within the limits, it is still their choice,” Lough said.

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According to Lough, the DORA was effective April 11 but businesses have been waiting for their official cups. Lough said as of Friday, she isn’t sure which bars within the DORA, besides Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company, have received their cups

The Springfield News Sun has reached out to Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company for comment but has not yet heard back.

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