§ 4.1-309 Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages in or on public school grounds; penalty
A. No person shall possess or drink any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school during school hours or school or student activities.
B. In addition, no person shall drink and no organization shall serve any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school after school hours or school or student activities, except for religious congregations using wine for sacramental purposes only.
C. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
D. This section shall not prohibit any person from possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages or any organization from serving alcoholic beverages in areas approved by the Board at a performing arts facility, provided the organization operating the performing arts facility or its lessee has a license granted by the Board.
History
This law was first created in 1954. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 651 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1954 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1982, chapter 288; in 1991, chapter 710; in 1993, chapter 866; in 1994, chapter 844; in 1997, chapters 784 and 837; in 2007, chapter 813; in 2024, chapters 111, 255, 619, 622, and 627.
1954, c. 651, § 4-78.1; 1982, c. 288; 1991, c. 710; 1993, c. 866; 1994, c. 844; 1997, cc. 784, 837; 2007, c. 813; 2024, cc. 111, 255, 619, 622, 627.