Conway, AR Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Conduct barred
- Public drunkenness/intoxication
- Covered locations
- Streets, sidewalks, public gatherings
- Maximum fine
- $25 per offense
- Charge classification
- Misdemeanor
- Enforcing agency
- Conway Police Department
Summary
In the City of Conway, Arkansas, appearing drunk or intoxicated at a public gathering, on a street, sidewalk or alley, or at any public place is a misdemeanor under the city's Morals chapter, punishable by a fine of up to $25 per offense.
7.24.01 - Public drunkenness prohibited. Any person who shall appear or be found at any picnic, barbeque, theatrical performance, circus grounds, college or school exercise, church or Sunday School service, literary society, baseball game, football game, political gathering, or any public gathering of any kind or nature, or on any train or railroad coach, depot platform or on any street, sidewalk or alley, or in any public place within the City of Conway, in a drunken or intoxicated condition shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
Full Breakdown
Conway Municipal Code § 7.24.01, in Chapter 7.24 titled Morals, prohibits public drunkenness across a wide list of settings: picnics, barbecues, theatrical performances, circus grounds, college or school exercises, church or Sunday School services, literary society meetings, baseball or football games, political gatherings, and any public gathering of any kind, as well as on a train or railroad coach, a depot platform, or any street, sidewalk or alley, or any other public place within the City of Conway. Anyone found in a drunken or intoxicated condition in one of those settings or locations is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The section traces to Ordinance No. A-158 and sits alongside Chapter 7.22 (Explicit Sexual Material) in Title 7, Public Peace, Safety and Morals, reflecting the code's older, catalog-style drafting rather than a modern open-container statute. The ordinance targets the state of intoxication in public rather than mere possession of an open alcoholic beverage container, so a sober person carrying an open drink on a Conway sidewalk is not reached by this section; enforcement is through the Conway Police Department under its general misdemeanor arrest authority.
Violations & Fines
A conviction under § 7.24.01 is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not more than $25, one of the smaller fixed-dollar penalties left in the Conway Municipal Code, reflecting the ordinance's age (Ordinance No. A-158) rather than a modern recalibrated fine schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drinking in public illegal in Conway, Arkansas?
What is the penalty for public drunkenness in Conway?
Does Conway's public drunkenness law apply at sports events?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Conway
Compare Conway to another location·View the Arkansas public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.