East Brunswick, NJ Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 158-8(A) of the Township Code, in the chapter titled the East Brunswick Township Ordinance Regulating Conduct in Parks, Public Lands, School Property and Indoor Public Places, sets four alcohol rules for any person in a park. Subsection (1) prohibits selling alcoholic beverages in the park at any time. Subsection (2) carves out designated recreation centers where meals or lunches are served under concession privileges: a concessionaire can sell alcohol there under the strict regulation and control of the Director of Parks, only in individual drinks, not in original packages or in bulk, only for consumption on the immediate premises of the concession, and under a license issued pursuant to law. Subsection (3) bars entering a park under the influence of intoxicating liquor or being under the influence in it. Subsection (4) bars consuming or possessing intoxicating and alcoholic beverages except by written permission of the Director of Parks.

The definition of park in § 158-2 is broad: a park, play area, natural area, reservation, field, beach, recreation center or any other area the Township owns or uses that is devoted to active or passive recreation or natural resource management. Section 158-11 gives the Director of Parks, Park Rangers, the Parks Foreman and designated Department of Parks employees the duty to enforce the chapter and the authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation.

Municipal events have a separate rule. Under Chapter 145, the Director of Public Safety is authorized to issue special regulations restricting the possession or consumption of all or specific types of alcoholic beverages at municipally sponsored or cosponsored events held on public lands or buildings, or on private lands or buildings covered by a Township use agreement. Section 145-2 makes it unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages as the regulations specify, and § 145-3 treats a notice posted at the main entrance, or a public announcement at the site, as sufficient notice. Under § 145-4 the Director of Public Safety or a representative can issue and implement the regulations even after an event has already started.