Forsyth County, NC Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Named parks
- 10 parks listed, e.g. Tanglewood, Kernersville Lake
- Covers
- Malt beverages, wine, spirits, mixed drinks (Sec. 15-26(a))
- Low-alcohol drinks
- Ban applies below 0.5% ABV too
- Exception
- County manager can designate & post allowed areas/hours
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under G.S. 18B-102(b)
- Legal authority
- G.S. 18B-300(c), 18B-301(f)(4)
Summary
Forsyth County bans consuming or possessing malt beverages, wine, spirits, or mixed drinks at ten named county parks unless the county manager designates an area and posts hours allowing it. Code Sec. 15-26 lists Horizons, Joanie Moser, Union Cross, Old U.S. 421, C.G. Hill, Old Richmond, Wright Courthouse, Walkertown Community Park, Tanglewood Park, and Kernersville Lake Park, plus any other county-owned recreation site.
(a)The consumption of malt beverages and unfortified wine and the possession or consumption of any fortified wine, spirituous liquor or mixed beverages, as defined in G.S. Chapter 18B, is prohibited at the following county parks or recreation sites, except in areas designated by the county manager or his representative in charge of the premises where consumption, or possession or consumption of those beverages or some of those substances and beverages may be allowed by the county manager during stated hours and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the county manager or his representative may prescribe by regulations adopted: Horizons, Joanie Moser, Union Cross, Old U.S. 421, C.G. Hill, Old Richmond, Wright Courthouse, Walkertown Community Park, Tanglewood Park, Kernersville Lake Park and other county parks or recreation sites owned or occupied by the county.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
Sec. S. S. G. Hill, Old Richmond, Wright Courthouse, Walkertown Community Park, Tanglewood Park, Kernersville Lake Park, and any other county park or recreation site the county owns or occupies. The ban lifts only in areas the county manager or an on-site representative designates, during stated hours, and subject to whatever restrictions that official prescribes by adopted regulation, so a picnic shelter reservation does not by itself authorize drinking; the site has to be affirmatively opened for it. The same section applies to any alcoholic beverage under one-half of one percent alcohol by volume, so low-alcohol seltzers and similar drinks are not a workaround.
Sec. 15-26(b) requires the county to file notice of the general ban, and any regulation opening a designated area, with the clerk to the board and to post it conspicuously at the affected park, with any open-drinking zone clearly marked in the posted rules. Sec. S. 18B-102(b), and Sec. S. S. 18B-301(f)(4) to regulate alcohol possession and consumption on county property.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 15-26 is a misdemeanor under G.S. 18B-102(b), not merely a civil citation, so it carries a criminal record risk in addition to any fine a court imposes. Because the section names specific parks rather than county property generally, enforcement centers on rangers and sheriff's deputies patrolling those ten listed sites and any other county-owned recreation site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink beer at Tanglewood Park in Forsyth County?
Does the county park alcohol ban cover hard seltzer?
What happens if I'm caught drinking at a banned county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the North Carolina public conduct overview
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