Peoria, IL Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 20-99, "Illegal possession or consumption of alcoholic liquor upon a public way or place," sets a two-part rule. First, no person may transport, carry, possess or have alcoholic liquor about their person on any public place or public way unless it remains in the original package with the seal unbroken, meaning an open can or bottle in a bag still violates the section. Second, no person may consume alcoholic liquor on any public place or public way at all, with the only exception being premises licensed for on-premises retail sale of liquor, such as a bar's outdoor seating covered by its own license.

Subsection (b) defines "public way" broadly to mean any street, alley, sidewalk, boulevard or right-of-way, and defines "public place" to include all publicly owned buildings and grounds plus privately owned buildings and grounds that are actually or customarily open to the public, such as a store parking lot. The section derives from Code 1957, § 22-41, and cross-references Chapter 3 (alcoholic beverages generally) and Sec. 20-104, which separately penalizes adults who allow minors to possess or consume liquor on premises they control. There is no stated exception for special-event street closures unless a separate liquor license or permit specifically authorizes open consumption within a defined footprint.