Green Bay, WI Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Open containers
- Banned in public places/ways
- Licensed premises
- Exempt if bar/restaurant licensed
- Special events
- City-approved events exempt
- Lambeau exemption
- Parking lot/sidewalks during games
- Penalty
- $1–$500 forfeiture per violation
Summary
Green Bay bans consuming or possessing an open alcohol container on any public way, public parking lot, or public place under Municipal Code § 24-114, unless you're on a licensed bar or restaurant's premises, at an approved special event, or a permitted sidewalk cafe.
No person shall consume or possess any open or unsealed container containing an alcohol beverage on any public way, in any parking lot held for public use, or on or within the premises of a public place, or on or in any motor vehicle on a public way or in parking lot held out for public use, unless such person is on the premises of an establishment holding a valid license for the on-premises consumption of alcohol beverages.
Full Breakdown
Section 24-114 bans consuming or possessing an open or unsealed alcohol container on any public way, in any public parking lot, or in any public place, including inside a vehicle parked on a public way or lot. 'Public place' covers bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs but excludes private residences and enclosed hotel rooms. Exceptions apply on the licensed premises of a bar or restaurant holding an on-premises alcohol license, at City-approved special events, and for permitted sidewalk cafes. The ordinance also lists an exemption for the Lambeau Field parking lot and adjoining sidewalks during games, notable because the stadium itself sits in the neighboring Village of Ashwaubenon, not Green Bay.
Violations & Fines
Violations fall under Chapter 24's general penalty (§ 24-83): a forfeiture of $1.00 to $500.00 plus prosecution costs, with conduct on separate days charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer while walking down the street in Green Bay?
Does the open-container ban apply at Lambeau Field?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Green Bay
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Public Alcohol Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brown County handle public alcohol use.