🍺 Can I drink alcohol in public — in a park, on the beach, on the street?

Quick answer

No — drinking alcohol in most public places is banned, and it carries a real fine. Under Article 484 of the Code of Administrative Offences, drinking alcoholic beverages on streets, in squares, parks, on beaches, in stadiums and on all forms of public transport, as well as appearing intoxicated in public in a way that offends human dignity, carries a fine of 20 to 100 €. The popular myth that "the fine is just a few euros" is out of date: since 2023 (Law No. XIV-1947) the penalty was raised from the former 14–30 € to today's 20–100 €, and for a repeat offence within a year it is 100 to 200 €. The ban does not apply in licensed places: café and bar terraces, restaurants and events where the municipality has issued a licence to sell alcohol. Private property and your home are not public places, so drinking there is fine.

📋 The rules

Drinking alcohol on streets, in parks, squares, on beaches and on public transport is banned (Art. 484)
Fine — 20 to 100 €; on repeat within a year — 100 to 200 €
Also punishable is appearing intoxicated in public in a way that offends dignity and morality
At events a ban on attending public events from 1 month to 1 year may be imposed
The penalty was raised in 2023 — old "14–30 €" references online no longer apply

🔓 Exceptions

Licensed places — café, bar and restaurant terraces and interiors where the municipality allows alcohol to be served by the glass
Events, fairs and exhibitions granted a licence to sell alcoholic beverages under the set procedure
Private property and the home are not public places, so Article 484 does not apply there

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The base fine is 20 to 100 €, but the real consequences do not stop there. A repeat offence within a year pushes the fine up to 100–200 €, and the officer may add an administrative measure — an obligation to attend an alcoholism-prevention or behaviour-change programme. If you drink at an ongoing event, the court may ban you from attending public events for one month to one year. What people do not expect: being drunk in public often triggers further offences — minor hooliganism, breach of public order or failing to obey an officer — whose fines are considerably higher. An intoxicated person may also be taken in to sober up, and the alcohol is confiscated. A fine and a record of the administrative offence given to a minor stay in the registers and can affect future opportunities.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I drink a beer in a park or by a lake?

No, a park, square, beach and other public place fall under the ban in Article 484, so drinking alcohol there brings a fine of 20 to 100 euros. The exception applies only in licensed places, for example a café terrace that the municipality has allowed to sell alcohol.

How big is the fine now?

For drinking alcohol in a public place the fine is 20 to 100 euros, and for a repeat offence within a year it is 100 to 200 euros. These amounts apply since 2023, when the penalty was raised, so older references to a 14–30 euro fine are no longer correct.

Can I drink on public transport?

No, drinking alcohol on all forms of public transport is banned and carries the same administrative liability. A narrow exception applies only to international trains, narrow-gauge railway trains and ships that have separate catering areas fitted out on board.

Is simply being drunk in public punishable?

Yes, Article 484 covers not only drinking but also appearing intoxicated in a public place in a way that offends human dignity and morality. The same fine applies, and alongside it other measures may be imposed, such as taking part in a prevention programme.

Can I drink in my own yard or on my balcony?

Yes, private property, your own yard or balcony are not public places, so the ban in Article 484 does not apply there. Still, if you are noisy or disturb the neighbours, other liability may arise for breaching public peace or the night-time quiet hours.

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