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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80597</law_id><section_number>4.1-308</section_number><catch_line>Drinking alcoholic beverages, or offering to another, in public place; penalty; exceptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>4.1-128</reference><reference>4.1-206.3</reference><reference>4.1-315</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="4.1">Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Alcoholic Beverage Control Act</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Prohibited Practices; Penalties; Procedural Matters</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Prohibited Practices Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If any person takes a drink of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offers a drink thereof to another, whether accepted or not, at or in any <span class="dictionary">public place</span>, he is guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-288881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> This section shall not prevent any person from drinking <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another in any rooms or areas approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in a <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> <span class="dictionary">establishment</span>, provided such <span class="dictionary">establishment</span> or the person who operates the same is <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> to <span class="dictionary">sell</span> <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> at retail for on-premises consumption and the <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> drunk or offered were purchased therein. <a id="paragraph-288882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> This section shall not prevent any person from drinking <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another in any room or area approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> at an event for which a banquet license, <span class="dictionary">mixed beverage</span> <span class="dictionary">special events</span> license, or designated outdoor refreshment area license has been granted. Nor shall this section prevent, upon authorization of the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, any person from drinking his own lawfully acquired <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another in approved areas and locations at events for which a coliseum or stadium license has been granted. <a id="paragraph-288883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> This section shall not prevent any person from drinking <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another on a chartered boat being used for the transportation of passengers for compensation which is not <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and which does not <span class="dictionary">sell</span> <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span>. <a id="paragraph-288884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> This section shall not prevent any person from drinking <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another in any areas approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in a <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> <span class="dictionary">commercial lifestyle center</span>. <a id="paragraph-288885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> This section shall not prevent any person from drinking <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or offering a drink thereof to another in any area upon the premises of a campground located on private property at which a majority of the campers use travel or tent trailers, pickup campers, or motor homes or similar recreational vehicles. <a id="paragraph-288886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-308/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 4-78; 1956, c. 23; 1972, c. 143; 1977, c. 439; 1979, c. 622; 1986, c. 113; 1988, c. 893; 1989, c. 42; 1990, c. 932; 1993, c. 866; 2017, cc. 157, 492; 2019, c. 622; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 390, 391; 2024, c. 492.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
