MOBILE, Alabama – Wednesday's forecast calls for sunny conditions with high temperatures in the low 60s.

In other words, it could be ideal weather to have a drink of beer, wine or other type of alcohol while standing outside in the city's designated entertainment districts.

The city's entertainment district ordinance officially kicks in at 4 p.m. Wednesday, meaning visitors can purchase a 16-ounce cup of liquor from a downtown establishment and walk outside with it. They can consume the liquor as long as it's contained within the district's boundaries.

"We don't really know what exactly to expect other than we'll see some folks walking on the sidewalks with cups of beverages," Carol Hunter, spokeswoman with the Downtown Mobile Alliance, said today. "We're very interested in seeing this gets started and see what kind of effect it will have."

District Maps

To view the map of the entertainment districts,

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No big events are planned to kick off the district's official opening, and not every bar will have a logo cup for patrons. They have until April 1 to purchase and provide either cups with their own establishment's logo on it or utilize the LODA cups the alliance is planning to have purchased by then.

"We're encouraging bars to get their own branded cups," Hunter said. "It's a great opportunity for them to do some marketing and get some exposure. If they really don't want too, we'll have the LODA cups available."

The district's opening comes as a bit of a surprise to some officials who thought that April 1 was the official starting date after Councilman William Carroll, who represents the area, told the local media that was the starting date.

The city's ordinance, however, states that the district is in "full force and effect" after its publication, which takes place on Wednesday.

Police Chief Micheal T. Williams said his police officers will "use their discretion" while enforcing the ordinance in the coming weeks, though he continued to express concerns about budgeting enforcement within the district's boundaries.

"We don't write the law, we try to enforce it as efficiently as we can," Williams said.

Still, the chief said he would prefer to have the ordinance begin after the proper cups have been purchased and distributed. Williams had previously expressed concerns about allowing unmarked cups within the district out of concerns it might prompt people to bring their own cups and their own liquor.

"I really don't see the urgency and hurry to get this done," Williams said. "The ordinance has been passed. Let's follow the ordinance and get the appropriate cups identified."

He added, "With this short time frame, people might not have the opportunity to get the cups they need."

Williams also said he plans to return before the City Council soon with a budget amendment to help pay for the overtime costs to enforce the districts.

Williams has said it will cost about $680,000 to patrol the two districts and the outdoor drinking that is allowed to take place within them from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

"Right now, I have some money set aside and I'm putting additional police down there Thursday, Friday and Saturday," Williams said. "But long-term, that has to be approached differently. Additional funds have to be provided to cover overtime costs."

Hunter said she anticipates the Police Department to enforce with a "reasonable" approach in the coming weeks as the districts begin.

"Our Police Department has, in recent years, been very reasonable about how they police the downtown area and what has been informally an entertainment district for years," she said. "They have always used very measured enforcement. I don't see why that has to change."

Meanwhile, there are no plans to install signage within the district designating areas where open liquor is not allowed.

Hunter said she thinks people will not be overly concerned about the boundaries, and added that the city will have to install the signage.

The signs would designate areas where the districts' boundaries are not allowed, such as along Dauphin Street between Cedar and Franklin streets where The Haberdasher and Alabama Music Box are located. Those two establishments were left out of the districts, creating a controversy about where the boundaries should be located.

Taverns that are within the boundaries, though, are preparing for Wednesday, though nothing overly unique has been planned.

"I think it will be a great thing for everyone down here," Mike Manley, general manager of T.P. Crockmiers said.

Manley said he getting 16 ounce cups later today in anticipation to Wednesday's activity.

"I have it on a list of things to do today," he said.\