Virginia Code 4.1-309: Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages in or on public school grounds; penalty.
A. No person shall possess or drink any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school during school hours or school or student activities.
Attorney's Note
Under the Virginia Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Virginia Code 4.1-309
- Alcoholic beverages: includes alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer, and any one or more of such varieties containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, including mixed alcoholic beverages, and every liquid or solid, powder or crystal, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being. See Virginia Code 4.1-100
- Board: means the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. See Virginia Code 4.1-100
- Performing arts facility: means an indoor or outdoor amphitheater, arena, multipurpose theater, or similar facility at which live musical, dance, theatre, or similar performances, the types of which are approved by the Authority, are performed, provided that the facility has stationary stadium or similar seating for more than 500 persons. See Virginia Code 4.1-100
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- Wine: includes any wine to which wine spirits have been added, as provided in the Internal Revenue Code, to make products commonly known as "fortified wine" which do not exceed an alcohol content of 21 percent by volume. See Virginia Code 4.1-100
B. In addition, no person shall drink and no organization shall serve any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school after school hours or school or student activities, except for religious congregations using wine for sacramental purposes only.
C. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
D. This section shall not prohibit any person from possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages or any organization from serving alcoholic beverages in areas approved by the Board at a performing arts facility, provided the organization operating the performing arts facility or its lessee has a license granted by the Board.
1954, c. 651, § 4-78.1; 1982, c. 288; 1991, c. 710; 1993, c. 866; 1994, c. 844; 1997, cc. 784, 837; 2007, c. 813; 2024, cc. 111, 255, 619, 622, 627.