🍺 Can I drink alcohol in public?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends on where you are standing — the municipal ordinance decides. There is no blanket national ban on drinking in public; the framework comes from Act 219/1996 on protection against the abuse of alcoholic beverages, but the actual ban is imposed by the municipality through a generally binding ordinance under the municipal establishment act. Restrictions tend to be total (the whole town), time-limited (evenings, or weekends) or place-specific — most often around schools, playgrounds, public transport stops and cemeteries. The sanction is imposed by the municipal or state police: an on-the-spot fine of up to €33, rising to €100 from 15 July 2026. The rules change street by street, so before that beer in the park check the ordinance for that municipality; it is published on its website.

📋 The rules

There is no blanket national ban — the ordinance decides
The framework comes from Act 219/1996
Bans are total, time-limited or place-specific
Typically near schools, playgrounds, stops, cemeteries
On-the-spot fine up to €33, from 15 Jul 2026 up to €100

🔓 Exceptions

Terraces and licensed events are normally carved out of the municipal ban
Serving alcohol to under-18s is prohibited everywhere, whatever the ordinance says
On a repeat or more serious breach the matter goes to the administrative authority

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The usual outcome is an on-the-spot fine of up to €33 from the municipal or state police — though from 15 July 2026 that ceiling rises to €100. On a repeat or more serious breach the offence is referred to the administrative authority, which can impose up to €100, and from the same date up to €300. The practical difficulty is that the rules change street by street: in one town the ban is total, in the next it covers only schools and bus stops — and many towns keep extending the list of prohibited places. So before that beer in the park, check the ordinance for that specific municipality; it is published on its website.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Is drinking in public banned?

There is no blanket national ban. The actual prohibition is imposed by each municipality through its own generally binding ordinance, so the rules differ from town to town — and sometimes from street to street within one town.

What is the fine?

An on-the-spot fine of up to €33, but from 15 July 2026 up to €100. On a repeat or more serious breach the matter is referred to the administrative authority, which can impose up to €100, and from that date up to €300.

Where are bans most common?

Around schools, children's playgrounds, public transport stops and cemeteries. Some towns ban it across the whole municipality, others only during certain hours — and many councils keep extending the list of prohibited places.

Does the ban cover terraces?

Licensed terraces and permitted events are normally carved out of the municipal ban. What governs, though, is the precise wording of the ordinance — the exemption is not automatic and in some towns it is drafted more narrowly than you would expect.

Where do I find the ordinance?

On your town or village website — generally binding ordinances must be published. What governs is the text in force in that municipality, not a general rule or the practice of a neighbouring council.

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