Public Conduct — Ireland

Ireland polices street behaviour through the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, and being drunk in public is itself an offence. Section 4 makes it an offence to be present in any public place while intoxicated to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that you might endanger yourself or someone near you, and a Garda may seize your bottle or can without a warrant. Offensive conduct in a public place is an offence between midnight and 7 a.m., and at any other hour once a Garda has asked you to stop (section 5). Threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour meant to provoke a breach of the peace, or reckless as to whether one results, is an offence (section 6), and failing without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to comply with a Garda direction is a separate offence that can carry prison (section 8). Public place is defined broadly, and since 2021 it includes an outdoor seating area on private land.

Intoxication in a public place: a class E fine, which the Revised Act annotates as not more than 500 euro (section 4). Disorderly conduct in a public place: a class D fine, annotated as not more than 1,000 euro (section 5). Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour: a class D fine of not more than 1,000 euro, up to 3 months imprisonment, or both (section 6). Failing to comply with a direction of a member of the Garda Siochana: a class D fine of not more than 1,000 euro, up to 6 months imprisonment, or both (section 8). The fine classes come from the Fines Act 2010; these penalties were last substituted by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, and the Legislation Directory records no amending Act touching sections 4 to 8 after 2024. A conviction under sections 4 to 9 can also attract an exclusion order under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003.

Verified Oct 13, 2026