Seattle, WA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SMC 12A.24.025
- Offense class
- Class 3 civil infraction (SMC 12A.24.150)
- Base fine
- ~$50 under RCW 7.80.120 schedule
- Exceptions
- Title 66 RCW-permitted premises/events
- Business version
- Gross misdemeanor under SMC 12A.24.085
Summary
SMC 12A.24.025 bars opening, possessing an open container of, or consuming liquor in any public place in Seattle, except as specifically permitted under Title 66 RCW. SMC 12A.24.150.A classifies it as a class 3 civil infraction, a ticket, not a criminal charge, with narrow carve-outs for licensed premises and state-authorized events.
A. Except as specifically permitted under Title 66 RCW, no person shall: 1. Open a bottle, can or other receptacle containing liquor in a public place; 2. Possess an open bottle, can or other receptacle containing liquor in a public place; or 3. Consume liquor in a public place. ... 12A.24.150 - Classification and penalty. A. An offense under Section 12A.24.025 is a class 3 civil infraction under RCW Chapter 7.80.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
A, no person may open a bottle, can, or other receptacle containing liquor in a public place; possess an already-open one in a public place; or consume liquor in a public place, unless Title 66 RCW specifically permits it. "Public place" is defined broadly in subsection B to include city streets and alleys, school grounds, public buildings, hotels, restaurants, theaters, stores, garages, transit vehicles and depots, and publicly owned beaches, parks, and playgrounds, but the definition expressly excludes state park land and any brewery or winery picnic area licensed to serve its own product under Washington State Liquor Control Board rules.
100's public marijuana ban. This is a civil, not criminal, violation. 085: a "public place or club" that allows liquor to be kept or consumed on its premises without a valid Washington State Liquor Control Board license commits a gross misdemeanor, reaching up to $5,000 and 364 days, a much heavier penalty aimed at the business, not the individual drinker.
Violations & Fines
An individual violation of SMC 12A.24.025 is a class 3 civil infraction under SMC 12A.24.150.A, carrying the state schedule's class 3 base fine (around $50 under RCW 7.80.120) plus statutory assessments, set by Municipal Court local rule: no arrest or criminal record. A business that allows unlicensed liquor consumption on its premises instead faces gross misdemeanor exposure under SMC 12A.24.085, up to $5,000 and 364 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer in a Seattle park?
Is drinking on my own porch or yard a violation?
What's the penalty for an open container violation in Seattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Public Alcohol Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle public alcohol use.