The Wall Street Journal reports that property developers around the country are pushing for city regulators to relax open container laws. By allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages around city streets and in park and retail areas, the hope is that it would lead to more time spent at local retail locations.

While it's a foreign concept for Los Angeles, some United States cities already have similar policies in place — precisely to encourage consumers to spend on shopping and restaurants. New Orleans and Las Vegas are two of the more notable examples. 

But where could leniency on open alcoholic beverage containers be beneficial for LA? Some of the more condensed shopping and retail areas include:

Melrose Avenue Shopping District

The famed and trendy Melrose area features enough shops and restaurants to keep visitors busy for hours. Patrons already have no problem spending at the high-end shops and boutiques, but could be even more motivated with a drink in hand.

LA Live

The scene around Staples Center continues to expand, and with portions of LA Live already closed off to traffic, this is an ideal spot to allow for some open containers. They’d need a few more shopping options, but adjusted alcohol laws could motivate those moves. 

3rd Street Promenade

Santa Monica’s touristy sprawl is already an outdoor mall with enough booze and food options to whet anyone’s appetite. The stretch from Wilshire Boulevard to Broadway is already closed to traffic, and it leads right into the more traditional mall Santa Monica Place. That’s four blocks of safe but lubricated spending possibilities (and a boon to the city’s economy).

Hermosa Beach Pier

Like LA Live, the Hermosa Beach Pier area is short on shopping, but heavy on food and drink, at least in the immediate block next to the pier. Ideally, the city would allow for open alcohol consumption between Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue, as well as a couple blocks north and south of Pier.

The Bloc LA

Downtown LA’s The Bloc isn’t yet complete, and its struggles have been numerous as it still hasn’t leased every storefront. More guaranteed returns from lenient alcohol laws could help fill the live/work/play complex out.