Sec. 5-7. Consumption of alcoholic beverages on public streets and ways.

It shall be unlawful within the corporate limits of the city for any person to consume alcoholic beverages (including light wines or beer) on any street, sidewalk, alley, public way, or on other public property; provided, however, that this section does not apply at or during an event sponsored, in whole or in part, by the city and/or by Lauderdale County, Mississippi, or at any other event held on any street, sidewalk, alley, public way, or on other public property, if the city, prior thereto, acting through its mayor, who is hereby given the authority to do so, has consented in writing that such other event may be so held, as it is lawful, at any of the events referred to herein, to consume, but not to become intoxicated there from, alcoholic beverages (including light wines or beer); and it is also lawful at these events for any person, provided such person has a valid license or permit, to sell at and during the events referred to herein alcoholic beverages (including "light wines or beer").

(Code 1962, § 5-5; Ord. No. 3282, 8-23-66; Ord. No. 4080, 7-22-97; Ord. No. 4157, 3-21-2000)

Cross references:  Streets and sidewalks generally, Ch. 20. 

State law references:  Intoxication as an offense, Miss. Code 1972, § 97-29-47. 

Sec. 5-8. Minors prohibited from establishments serving alcoholic beverages; exception.

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) years to enter knowingly any place of business where alcoholic beverages (including but not limited to light wines and beer) are served for consumption on the premises or to remain at any such place after the character thereof has been discovered; provided, however, that, the provisions of this section shall not apply to any restaurant as that term is defined in this chapter.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, operates or is in charge of any place of business where alcoholic beverages (including but not limited to light wines and beer) are served for consumption on the premises to permit any person under the age of eighteen (18) years to enter or to remain in such place of business; provided, however, that, the provisions of this section shall not apply to any restaurant as that term is defined in this chapter.

(Code 1962, § 5-6(a),(b); Ord. No. 3468, §§ 1, 2, 8-26-74)

Sec. 5-8.1. Persons under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on the premises of certain businesses where alcoholic beverages may be consumed and for related purposes prohibited.

(a)   Definitions.  For purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed herein unless the context shall otherwise require: 

Alcoholic beverages  shall mean and include all substances which are the subject of and are regulated by Chapters 1, 3 and 5, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972. 

Business  shall mean and include any commercial establishment: 

(1)   Which is other than a religious society or ecclesiastical body, a charitable society, a historical or patriotic association or society, a garden or pilgrimage club or association or a fraternal or benevolent organization eligible to have its property exempt from an ad valorem taxation under the provisions of Section 27-31-1, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(2)   Where alcoholic beverages are permitted to be consumed on the premises and upon which premises alcoholic beverages are consumed; and

(3)   Which is required to obtain a permit from the City of Meridian in order to lawfully operate within the City of Meridian, but which is not required to obtain a permit from the State of Mississippi under the provisions of Chapters 1, 3 or 5, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, to lawfully operate within the City of Meridian.

Minor  shall mean and include any person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years. 

Owner  shall mean, jointly and singular, any individual, individuals or legal entity, including, but not limited to, sole proprietorship, partnership, association, corporation, joint venture or cooperative, who or which owns a business. 

(b)   Prohibited. 

(1)   It shall be unlawful for the owner or owners of any business and also the agents, employees and representatives thereof to permit or allow any minor to enter or remain upon the premises of the business during those hours when the business allows the consumption of alcoholic beverages on or within its premises.

(2)   It shall be unlawful for a minor to enter or remain upon the premises of the business during those hours when the business allows the consumption of alcoholic beverages on or within its premises.

(c)   Penalties. 

(1)   Any owner or agent, employee or representative thereof, who shall violate any provision of this section, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by a term in the city jail not to exceed thirty (30) days or by any combination thereof. In addition to imposing such punishment upon the owner or agent, employee or representative, the permit to operate issued by the City of Meridian to the business may also be suspended or revoked. The partners, officers, directors and shareholders of any legal entity which is the owner of any business may be charged as individuals with a violation of this ordinance and tried as individuals therefore, and, upon conviction thereof, may be punished as provided in this section. Each violation of this ordinance shall be considered a separate violation.

(2)   Any minor who shall violate any provision of this ordinance shall be subject to Title 43, Chapter 21, Mississippi Code of 1972 and may be punished as provided therein.

(Ord. No. 3943, §§ 1--3, 10-6-92)

Editor's note:  Ordinance No. 3943, as adopted Oct. 6, 1972, did not specifically amend this Code, hence, inclusion of §§ 1--3 as § 5-8.1 was at the discretion of the editor. 

Sec. 5-9. Sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of twenty-one prohibited; sale of beer and wine restricted; penalty.

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, furnish, dispose of, give or cause to be sold, furnished, disposed of or given, any alcoholic beverage to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, except as permitted in section 67-3-54 of the Mississippi Code 1972. As used in this section, the words "alcoholic beverage" mean any alcoholic liquid capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being.

(b)   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00) or by imprisonment in the city jail for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(Code 1962, § 5-7; Ord. No. 3495, §§ 1--3, 10-13-75)

Sec. 5-10. Possession or consumption by persons under twenty-one prohibited; exceptions.

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to possess or consume beer or any other alcoholic beverage.

(b)   Anyone violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalty described in section 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances of the city.

(Code 1962, § 5-8; Ord. No. 3650, §§ 1, 2, 11-2-82)

 

Sec. 16-26. Intoxication.

It shall be unlawful for any person to be drunk or in a state of intoxication in any public place within the corporate limits or to be intoxicated in any private place to the disturbance of any other person.

(Code 1962, § 17-27)

State law references:  Public drunkenness prohibited, Miss. Code 1972, § 97-29-47. 

 

Sec. 16-43. Same--Selling, giving to minors or intoxicated persons.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give or lend to any minor or intoxicated person, knowing such person is to be a minor or in a state of intoxication, any deadly weapon or other weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited, or pistol cartridge as provided in section 16-41 of this chapter.

(Code 1962, § 17-56; Ord. No. 3221, 5-19-64)

State law references:  Similar provisions, Miss. Code 1972, § 97-37-13.