Public intoxication

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Public Intoxication, also known as "drunk and disorderly conduct", is a summary offense in many countries.

Typical offenders are those who are obviously intoxicated and making a public nuisance of him or herself. Intoxication in and of itself is not illegal - a person must also fulfill one of the following criteria in order to be arrested:

  1. Being a "public nuisance;" that is, he or she is acting in such an obnoxious manner as to cause a public disturbance (such as instigating a fight or "mouthing off" to police);
  2. Being a danger to others, such as fighting or attempting to drive while drunk; or
  3. Being so intoxicated that he or she is a danger to himself, i.e. he or she is vomiting due to alcohol poisoning.

Typically, the police would put the intoxicated person in jail (often referred to as the "drunk tank") until he sobers up and then issue a fine. Punishment may be more severe if other illegal acts, such as assault or drunk driving, also occur.

This offense is sometimes known as "drunk in public" or "drunk and disorderly."

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