§ 25-1001 — Drinking of alcoholic beverage in public place prohibited; intoxication prohibited.

District of Columbia § 25-1001

• Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
• Title 25: Alcoholic Beverages. [Enacted title]
• Ch. 10: Limitations on Consumers.

Text

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, no person in the District shall drink an alcoholic beverage or possess in an open container an alcoholic beverage in or upon any of the following places:

(1) A street, alley, park, sidewalk, or parking area;

(2) A vehicle in or upon any street, alley, park, or parking area;

(3) A premises not licensed under this title where food or nonalcoholic beverages are sold or entertainment is provided for compensation;

(4) Any place to which the public is invited and for which a license to sell alcoholic beverages has not been issued under this title;

(5) Any place to which the public is invited for which a license to sell alcoholic beverages has been issued under this title at a time when the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises is prohibited by this title or by the regulations promulgated under this title; or

(6) Any place licensed under a club license at a time when the consumption of the alcoholic beverages on the premises is prohibited by this title or by regulations promulgated under this title.

(b) Subsection (a)(1) of this section shall not apply if drinking or possession of an alcoholic beverage occurs:

(1) In or on a structure that projects upon the parking, and which is an integral, structural part of a private residence, such as a front porch, terrace, bay window, or vault, by, or with the permission of, the owner or resident; or

(2) At an event licensed by the Board.

(c) No person, whether in or on public or private property, shall be intoxicated and endanger the safety of himself, herself, or any other person or property.

(d) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (c) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than the amount set forth in [ § 22-3571.01 ], or imprisoned for not more than 60 days, or both.

(e) Any person in the District who is intoxicated in public and who is not conducting himself or herself in such manner as to endanger the safety of himself, herself, or of any other person or of property shall be treated in accordance with Chapter 6 of Title 24 .

Legislative History

Jan. 24, 1934, 48 Stat. 333, ch. 4, § 28; Aug. 27, 1935, 49 Stat. 901, 902, ch. 756, §§ 13, 14; June 29, 1953, 67 Stat. 104, ch. 159, § 404(h); Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 618, Pub. L. 90-452, § 2(a); Sept. 29, 1982, D.C. Law 4-157, § 13, 29 DCR 3617; Dec. 3, 1985, D.C. Law 6-64, § 2, 32 DCR 5970; Mar. 26, 1999, D.C. Law 12-206, § 2(b), 45 DCR 8430; May 3, 2001, D.C. Law 13-298, § 101, 48 DCR 2959; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 284(d), 60 DCR 2064; July 17, 2014, D.C. Law 20-126, § 406, 61 DCR 3482