High Point, NC Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor
- Covers
- streets, sidewalks, city property
- Exception
- permitted sidewalk cafes w/ ABC permit
- Applies
- inside and outside city limits
Summary
Drinking beer, wine, ale or any alcoholic beverage on High Point streets, sidewalks, or city property is a misdemeanor, unless it's inside a building or a permitted sidewalk cafe with an ABC permit.
It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any beer, wine, ale or any alcoholic beverages (as defined under Chapter 18B of the General Statutes of North Carolina,) in or on any public street, right-of-way, sidewalk, alley or other public place within the city or on any city-owned property which is located inside or outside the High Point corporate limits.(b)Subsection (a) shall not apply within a building on city-owned property or park, or at permitted sidewalk cafes, where appropriate ABC permits have been obtained as required by law for the consumption of beer, wine, ale or any alcoholic beverages for the period of time permitted thereunder.(c)A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 95-82, § 1, 9-21-95; Ord. No. 6609/09-09, 3-5-09; Ord. No. 6758/10-106, § 1, 8-16-10; Ord. No. 7852/22-72, § 1, 6-21-22)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
High Point Code of Ordinances § 12-1-4 makes it unlawful to consume beer, wine, ale, or any alcoholic beverage defined under Chapter 18B of the General Statutes on any public street, right-of-way, sidewalk, alley, or other public place in the city, or on any city-owned property whether located inside or outside High Point's corporate limits. The ban does not apply inside a building on city property or park, or at a permitted sidewalk cafe holding the required ABC permits for that time period. A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Drinking alcohol on a public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, or unpermitted city property is a misdemeanor, enforced by High Point police under § 12-1-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer while walking around downtown High Point?
Does the ban reach city property outside the city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
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Public Alcohol Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle public alcohol use.