Tempe, AZ Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 23-45(a) of the City Code prohibits possessing or consuming "spirituous liquors," Arizona's statutory term for hard liquor and wine as opposed to beer, in every city park. The only carve-out is for malt beverages, which a person or group may drink for personal consumption after obtaining a one-day permit issued by the Community Services Department under the companion permit section, Section 23-56. The City must conspicuously post the liquor prohibition near every park entrance, giving park users physical notice of the rule beyond the Code itself.

Section 23-45(b) narrows the ban further for Rio Salado Park: the prohibition does not reach possession or consumption connected with a City-authorized concession there, though the City will not issue personal-consumption beer permits for Rio Salado Town Lake. Section 23-56 sets the mechanics of the beer permit: it is available only for parks of three acres or more (excluding Tempe Beach Park), runs until sundown unless attached to a ramada reservation, in which case it lasts until the park closes, and cannot be used inside City buildings during normal business hours.

Anyone using a beer permit must carry it and produce it on request; drinking spirituous liquor at all, with or without a permit, is a violation. Section 23-45(c) and Section 23-56(d) both set the penalty at a misdemeanor under the general penalty provision, Section 1-7, and a permit holder found in violation is also held liable to the City for the cost of the enforcement response.