Davidson County, NC Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- consuming malt beverages or unfortified wine
- Where banned
- all property the county owns or occupies
- Penalty provision
- general penalty at § 10.99
- Original adoption
- passed September 6, 1983
- Last amended
- April 22, 2024
Summary
Davidson County bans drinking malt beverages or unfortified wine anywhere on property the county owns or occupies. Section 110.01 makes no exception for parks, parking lots, or other public grounds; anyone who violates it faces the general penalty set in § 10.99.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to consume malt beverages or unfortified wine on all property owned or occupied by the county. (B) Penalty. Any person violating this chapter shall be punished as provided in § 10.99.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance passed 4-22-2024; and State legislation through 2023 North Carolina Legislative Service, Pamphlet No. 6).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 110 of the Davidson County Code of Ordinances consists of a single section addressing public drinking, and it is written broadly: the ban reaches 'all property owned or occupied by the county,' not just a specific park or building list. That sweep covers county parks, the courthouse grounds, county office parking lots, and any other real estate the county owns or occupies within its jurisdiction. The rule targets malt beverages (beer) and unfortified wine specifically; it does not by its own text mention liquor or fortified wine, which North Carolina's open-container and alcoholic beverage control laws separately regulate.
The ordinance was originally passed on September 6, 1983, and was amended April 22, 2024, showing the county revisited and kept the ban in its current form rather than letting it lapse. 99 sets for ordinance violations generally, applied here to a public-drinking citation.
Violations & Fines
Consuming malt beverages or unfortified wine on any property owned or occupied by Davidson County is a violation of § 110.01(A), punished under the general penalty provision at § 10.99 as stated in § 110.01(B). The ordinance applies regardless of whether the property is a park, a government building, or a parking area the county controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer in a Davidson County park?
Does the ban cover liquor or fortified wine too?
What's the penalty for drinking on county property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davidson County
Compare Davidson County to another location·View the North Carolina public conduct overview
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