Bristol, PA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Chapter 6, Part 1 of the Bristol Borough Code covers three related offenses. Section 6-102 prohibits consuming any alcoholic beverage in any quantity upon any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, stairway, thoroughfare, or other public property within the Borough. The reach extends to private ground: no one can drink within five feet of a public way or thoroughfare while on a private stairway, doorway or other private property open to public view, unless the owner, agent or other party in lawful possession gives express or implied permission.

Section 6-104 is the open-container rule. No person may possess a container of alcoholic beverage, wrapped or unwrapped, which has been opened or on which the seal has been broken in any manner on a public street, avenue, alley, thoroughfare or other public property in the Borough, with the same five-foot rule for private stairways and doorways. Section 6-101 defines an alcoholic beverage as any spirits, wine, beer, ale or other liquid containing more than 1/2% of alcohol by volume which is fit for beverage purpose.

Section 6-105 exempts the interior portions of any private dwelling, habitat or building, duly prescribed and dispensed medication having alcoholic content, and premises duly licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board when the person is a patron of the licensee. Section 6-103 separately prohibits public drunkenness: a person is guilty of a summary offense if he appears in any public place manifestly under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance enough to endanger himself or other persons or property, or annoy persons in his vicinity.