A public intoxication conviction can have extremely negative effects on your life despite it being only a misdemeanor. A conviction could cause: Getting fired from a job; Being passed over by potential employers for other jobs; Landlords rejecting your application to be a tenant; Getting rejected by colleges and universities; Being denied a professional license; and/or Losing out on scholarship opportunities. Furthermore, having a public intoxication conviction carries a social stigma. It causes people to presume you may be an alcoholic or irresponsible. Therefore, if you are charged with being drunk in public, you are advised to fight the charge and get the matter expunged as soon as possible.