A man drinks a bottle of alcohol in a bar and becomes so intoxicated he cannot get up. Has he committed a crime?

• A. Public intoxication
• B. No crime because in a bar
• C. Disorderly conduct
• D. Driving under the influence

Answer: (A)

Public intoxication is the issue being tested: many jurisdictions consider being visibly intoxicated in a public place to the point of impairment a crime. A bar is treated as a public place for this purpose, and if someone is so drunk that they cannot stand or care for themselves, that level of impairment can meet the threshold for public intoxication. Driving under the influence requires operating a vehicle, which isn’t happening here, and disorderly conduct would usually involve disruptive or threatening behavior beyond just being unable to get up. So, being unable to stand after drinking in a bar fits the idea of public intoxication, making it the best choice.