Freedom to Enjoy Oneself in Public Act (Law'd)

[Ban my account ffs!]

Sponsor:  Senator Lief

Freedom to Enjoy Oneself in Public Bill

1) This act shall apply only in the District of Columbia and federal territories that do not form a part of any region.

2) Possession of open containers of alcohol, the consumption of alcohol, and public intoxication by persons eighteen years of age or older in public open space and when riding on public transportation shall no longer be prohibited. All laws prohibiting the above are hereby repealed.

3) This act shall not be construed to allow possession of open containers of alcohol, the consumption of alcohol, or public intoxication in public buildings or in private vehicles.

[Eraserhead]

I support this but I thought it might have to do with granting people the freedom to masturbate in public due to the title. Heh.

[Franzl]

Strongly support. Freedom legislation!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Seems rather good, support.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I support this but I thought it might have to do with granting people the freedom to masturbate in public due to the title. Heh.

I had the same initial thought.

[HappyWarrior]

I'll support this and hope the regions will also work to pass such a bill as well.

[Fritz]

As a person in recovery from alcoholism, I have a difficult time supporting this.  Really people, we have establishments where people are free to drink- they are called bars.  And the bar will tell you to leave when you have had too much.  I should know, it has happened to me more than a few times.

Alcohol is a dangerous substance, which should be used responsibly by those who consume it.  This bill encourages irresponsible use, and I think does our citizens a disservice.  This bill would arguably benefit homeless alcoholics who have no place to go to do their drinking, and could turn DC into a mecca for such.  On the other hand, it would prevent them from being taken to detox or jail, where they might get a meal and a warm place to sleep.

[Franzl]

As a person in recovery from alcoholism, I have a difficult time supporting this.  Really people, we have establishments where people are free to drink- they are called bars.  And the bar will tell you to leave when you have had too much.  I should know, it has happened to me more than a few times.

I don't quite understand how other people are harmed by someone next to them on the train having a beer if he wants.

[Fritz]

The last time I rode on Amtrak, I had several drinks in the bar car.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The last time I rode on Amtrak, I had several drinks in the bar car.

I really don't understand.

[Fritz]

The last time I rode on Amtrak, I had several drinks in the bar car.

I really don't understand.

My point was, drinking on a train is legal, as far as I know.

[Ebowed]

On the other hand, it would prevent them from being taken to detox or jail, where they might get a meal and a warm place to sleep.

I can't imagine that people are treated well in jail, even if it is for something relatively benign like drinking in public.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

On the other hand, it would prevent them from being taken to detox or jail, where they might get a meal and a warm place to sleep.

I can't imagine that people are treated well in jail, even if it is for something relatively benign like drinking in public.

There's is nothing nice in landing in jail, boss.

[Fritz]

If you had to spend the night outside, you might think differently.  But that's not even the point.  The point is, this protects the rights of homeless alcoholics to get drunk in public.  Is that really something we want to protect?

You have to be pretty hammered to get arrested for public drunkenness.  I've been arrested for driving drunk, but never just for being drunk, despite weaving my way down sidewalks, riding buses, and even talking to police.  I suppose I would have gotten arrested if I had an open bottle in my hand, and was drinking from it, but why would I need to do that?  That's what the bar is there for.  Most jurisdictions don't have a problem with beer in the park, I suppose it depends on the jurisdiction, and the park.

[Ban my account ffs!]

While I respect your opinion on this and I support your efforts to stay sober, you have to realize that not everybody suffers from alcoholism, Fritz.

In fact, I'd say the vast majority of us don't. 

We should make legislation that helps alcoholics become and stay sober as well as get homeless people off the streets.  Denying people the right to have a drink in the street is not going to solve either of the two aforementioned problems.  It needlessly sends people to jail and costs us money.  I've lived in a country where public drunkenness and public drinking were not illegal... and there was no visible difference... other than people might have a beer with their picnic by the river on a nice spring day.

The second a drunk person has walked into a public building or accosted a passerby, they have committed a crime and can be charged for such.  But a person who has some beers and rides the bus home with a bit of a slur and the occasional stumble is not a danger to you or I and should not be treated as such.

[Badger]

Assuming that either of the following statute, or a similar version, is currently in effect for DC and the territories:

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2917.11  (see Paragraph B)

How would the repeal of public intoxication statutes as proposed here affect this statute?

[Fritz]

I think I already spoke to your point, Snowguy...I have been that drunk person on the bus, and I got in no legal trouble for it.  But I did my drinking in the bar, not on the street, or on the bus.  I have no problem with anyone having a beer by the river, and in most cases, neither does the law.  I think the restrictions that the law does place on where alcohol may be consumed, and how drunk a person may be in public, are reasonable.  They are certainly not excessive.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I think I already spoke to your point, Snowguy...I have been that drunk person on the bus, and I got in no legal trouble for it.  But I did my drinking in the bar, not on the street, or on the bus.  I have no problem with anyone having a beer by the river, and in most cases, neither does the law.  I think the restrictions that the law does place on where alcohol may be consumed, and how drunk a person may be in public, are reasonable.  They are certainly not excessive.

The law as it stands leaves a massive gray area and puts the interpretation of the law into the hands of the cops and not into the hands of the citizens.

Despite the law being laxly enforced for people "enjoying a beer by the river", some angry cop with a chip on his shoulder could immediately start causing trouble.

I think the law should be made clear.  And I think it should err on the side of giving people more personal freedom in this case.

[Badger]

Again, HUGE difference between open container or public consumption and public intoxication.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Considering we abolished the federal drinking age and left it to the regions, any chance we could strike the age requirements?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Isn't DC a part of the Mideast Region? This sort of decision should be left to the most local level possible.  Also I don't see anything in this bill to help alcoholics, and intoxicated and addicted people roaming the streets and parks is not exactly a draw for tourists or any business aside from liquor stores. 

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Serious concerns about the language and scope here. Instead of replacing a "gray area" with a wide open door to all forms and extents, perhaps a specific exemption should be made with defined "standards" that provides safeguards against "excessive" intoxication in such venues and the resulting disorderly behavior.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

My only concern for this would be people drinking and wandering out in public, potentially walking into streets and the like, putting themselves and others at risk. Otherwise, I don't have much of a problem with it.

[Lief 🗽]

Considering we abolished the federal drinking age and left it to the regions, any chance we could strike the age requirements?

As far as I know, the federal government still sets the drinking age in DC and the territories, and we've set it at 18.

[Sbane]

My only concern for this would be people drinking and wandering out in public, potentially walking into streets and the like, putting themselves and others at risk. Otherwise, I don't have much of a problem with it.

Don't people do that now?