(The Center Square) – With few solutions left, Spokane has banned single-serve alcohol sales downtown, as well as drug paraphernalia, unless the seller also provides free naloxone.
The Spokane City Council gave its final approval over two related ordinances Monday night. The first established an Alcohol Impact Area, or AIA, within the Spokane Police Department’s downtown precinct, while the second created a Community Health Impact Area, also known as CHIA.
Spokane previously enforced an AIA, but Mayor Lisa Brown proposed its return to downtown just before the new year. She also proposed restricting the sale of paraphernalia within the CHIA unless the seller provides free naloxone, which is used to treat opioid overdoses.
“These containers are in our viaducts, scattered on the street and placed in our landscaping,” Rae-Lynn Barden, policy director of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, testified in support.
According to a news release, alcohol-related incidents within the downtown precinct increased by over 60% in the last three years. Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall also shared data in December that showed about 70% of the city’s drug offenses occur within the boundaries.
While Monday’s approval reestablished the AIA, it doesn’t prevent bars and restaurants from selling single-serve alcohol. However, the CHIA applies to anyone selling paraphernalia, meaning users might resort to other sources if retailers don’t provide naloxone.
Supporters say the ordinances take a step toward addressing the regional housing and opioid crisis. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, more than 2,000 homeless individuals call the Spokane region home, with 38% reporting substance use.
Local medical student Katelyn Costanza said while the AIA takes the alcohol away, the CHIA only prevents the sale of paraphernalia. She said it considers those retailers a “net harm to the community” and argued that the sale of pipes is a form of harm reduction to reduce overdoses.
“The city thinks removing glass, which is not an evidence-based practice, will function similarly to the alcohol impact zone, which is evidence-based,” Costanza said. “Realistically, this will take safe smoking supplies away and exacerbate the harms of substance use.”
She and others noted that requiring sellers to provide free naloxone, which is typically more expensive than paraphernalia, is cost-prohibitive. Instead, some suggested the city offer it, while others took time to call on law enforcement to cut the drug supply off at the source.
“I don’t like the idea of putting mandates on business,” Councilmember Michael Cathcart said, “but we are out of options.”
The Spokane City Council unanimously approved the AIA. However, differences over harm reduction ultimately saw Cathcart and Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, who represent downtown, vote against the CHIA after many expressed reservations about the ordinance.
