The Birmingham City Council has designated Uptown near the BJCC as an entertainment zone, which relaxes rules on patrons carrying alcoholic beverages outside.

The Uptown district of restaurants and lounges now becomes the first in Birmingham that permanently relaxes open container rules.

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex operates the district and submitted the application. The new rules will allow patrons to take beverages outside but would not allow them to take them to other venues.

The Uptown district will include the interior courtyard of the BJCC as well as the Westin and Sheraton Hotels.

The initial concept was proposed in 2012 by Council President Johnathan Austin. The council in 2013 approved an ordinance to allow the open-air districts.

Austin said Birmingham has already proven it could logistically handle the zones, citing the success of street festivals where areas are blocked and people are allowed to walk with drink cups and cans.

Councilman Jay Roberson, a former member of the Public Safety Committee, was skeptical of the concept when it was proposed, but has since changed his view.

Roberson said he observed the success of the districts in other areas and noted the benefits it could bring to Birmingham's district.

"This is great," Roberson said. "Uptown is very vibrant there are a lot of amenities down there and it gives us a hub."

While several areas were floated for the possible zone early on, council members said Uptown was the best place to pilot the new rules.

The designation at Uptown had the best chance for success because it is contained and removed from neighborhoods, council members have said.

Councilwoman Valerie Abbott asked that the city move slowly in expanding the designation to other areas.

"Let it go for a while so we can iron out the bugs before we designate any more," she said. "Nothing's ever perfect when you do it the first time."