Intoxicants possessed unlawfully
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, except for scientific, sacramental, medicinal or mechanical purposes, possesses intoxicating liquors in the Indian country or where the introduction is prohibited by treaty or an Act of Congress, shall, for the first offense, be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and, for each subsequent offense, be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
The term "Indian country" as used in this section does not include fee-patented lands in non-Indian communities or rights-of-way through Indian reservations, and this section does not apply to such lands or rights-of-way in the absence of a treaty or statute extending the Indian liquor laws thereto.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 759 (PDF, 39 MB); May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §28, 63 Stat. 94 (PDF, 5.2 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), (I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to possess alcohol in Indian country, or in places where bringing in alcohol is banned by a treaty or federal law. The section does not cover privately owned land in non-Indian communities or rights-of-way through reservations, unless another treaty or law extends it there.