Albemarle County, VA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Sec. 10-104 has two separate prohibitions. Subsection A bars any person from taking a drink of an alcoholic beverage, or offering a drink of one to someone else, whether accepted or not, in any public place; a violation is a class 4 misdemeanor. Subsection B separately bars possessing an open or opened container, can, cup, glass, or bottle holding an alcoholic beverage in a public park or playground, on county-owned property, or on a public street or sidewalk adjoining a public street in the county; this too is a class 4 misdemeanor.

1-308(B), (C), and (D), and it lists retail restaurant ABC licenses, banquet-special event ABC licenses, and private banquet ABC licenses as covered examples. 1-100. The ordinance was adopted by Ord. 98-A(1) on August 5, 1998, and amended by Ord. 1-128(B). A closely related section, Sec. 10-105, separately bans drinking or possessing alcohol on public school grounds during or after school hours as a class 2 misdemeanor, a higher penalty class than the general open-container ban.