Public intoxication

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Public intoxication is when someone looks or acts drunk in public. Laws about it vary a lot from place to place, and sometimes it’s enough to appear drunk or disruptive, even if you’re not fully drunk.

Barbados
Liquor licensees are responsible for drunkenness on their premises, and police can be asked to remove drunk people from public places near bars and clubs.

Brazil
Drinking in public is legal and common. Being intoxicated in public is a misdemeanor, but laws are rarely enforced.

Canada
Drinking rules are set by provinces. In British Columbia and Ontario, public drinking and public intoxication are offenses. Open containers can lead to fines (for example, about C$125 in Ontario, with separate penalties for public drunkenness).

Northwest Territories
Public intoxication can lead to imprisonment or up to 24 hours in a medical facility under the territory’s liquor laws.

Chile
Drinking in public or in unlicensed places is illegal. Penalties can include confiscation of the drink, fines, or arrest.

United States
There is no single federal ban on drinking in public; laws vary by state and city. Some states criminalize public intoxication, while others do not. For example, Nevada does not always criminalize it, though excessive drunkenness can lead to other charges. Some cities permit drinking in public under strict rules (e.g., New Orleans with plastic cups; Butte, Montana with limited hours).

United Kingdom
There are several offenses related to public intoxication, and police may help, fine, or remove someone to a police station. Penalties can include cautions, penalty notices, or court fines, varying by location and offense.

Australia
- New South Wales and South Australia historically treated public drunkenness as a crime (level changes over time).
- Victoria is moving to treat drunkenness as a health issue, with fines for public drunkenness or being drunk in public (new rules coming into effect in 2022).
- Queensland still has a specific criminal offense for public drunkenness.
- Northern Territory reintroduced explicit bans on public drunkenness in 2024.

New Zealand
Drinking in public is not a crime by itself. It becomes an offense mainly if the person becomes a public nuisance, in which case they may be taken home or to a police cell until sober.

Singapore
Certain areas, like Geylang and Little India, restrict drinking in public after certain hours in Liquor Control Zones. Licenses and retailer rules limit when and where alcohol can be sold or consumed.

Note
Public intoxication rules are complex and can change. If you’re unsure about the local laws, check the specific rules for your country or city.