As summer heats up, many Littleton residents take parties and gatherings outside to public parks. Including alcohol at those gatherings is illegal under the city’s laws, but that may soon change.

The Littleton City Council is considering amending its open-container law to allow the consumption of 3.2 percent alcohol in public parks.

“We received a number of calls from people who had rented shelters thinking they could get 3.2 alcohol and finding out that was not the case,” City Attorney Suzanne Staiert said.

Under state law, the consumption of 3.2 percent or less alcohol in parks is allowed. But Littleton’s current law is stricter. It effectively prohibits any consumption of alcohol in a park without a special event permit issued by the city manager.

At its May 18 regular meeting, city council unanimously approved a motion to amend the current ordinance to conform with the less-stringent state law.

“My preference is to comply with state law,” Councilmember Jim Taylor said. “We need to get more consistent.”

If approved, Littleton’s open container ordinance, like the state’s, would only apply to alcohol greater than 3.2 percent. The state does not concern itself with alcohol of 3.2 percent or less.

Speaking in the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Bill Hopping asked the board to do away with the current open container ordinance that prohibits all alcohol in public parks. Hopping said he is involved with planning his Littleton High School reunion in Progress Park.

“I would encourage you to do away with an open-container law for things (below) 3.2,” Hopping said. “It’s an old law. Nobody really cares. Nobody even knows about it.”

Councilmembers have directed Staiert to prepare an ordinance that would apply the open container law only to alcohol greater than 3.2 percent.