Ohio approves bill to allow drinking in outdoor consumption areas

Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill Thursday that allows the state to create open-container 'entertainment districts' inspired by tourist magnets like New Orleans and Las Vegas.

The new law permits public consumption of alcoholic beverages in special district areas like The Banks on Cincinnati's riverfront.

Officials from the City of Cincinnati, The Banks and the Cincinnati Reds had been pushing for the bill, hoping to create an Opening Day-like atmosphere year-round at the riverfront.

Below are the cities which currently allow public drinking:

Towns with a population between 35,000 and 50,000 can create one open container zone and towns with more than 50,000 people can create two zones. It's ultimately up to each jurisdiction to decide whether or not to participate.

Drinking districts must include at least four alcohol-permit holders and can be no more than a half-mile square.

Ohio is the 18th state to allow public drinking in any form and the seventh state to permit public drinking in certain tourist-friendly areas.

Here is a map from the Huffington Post that shows where you can drink (and where you can't) on the streets.