Can I plea my way out of a public intoxication charge?

Public intoxication charges are usually considered misdemeanor charges and may not carry serious criminal penalties. However, you may be sentenced to a fine, community service, or even a short amount of jail time in certain cases depending on your state law and your behavior. Although the charges may not carry a long jail sentence, you may still want to avoid having a criminal record or a history of public intoxication in your file. If so, you may wish to arrange a plea bargain. 

Arranging a plea bargain for the public intoxication charges can involve pleading guilty to the actual charges and just getting a lesser sentence. However, as part of your deal with the prosecutor, you may want to see if the prosecutor is willing to allow you to plea to lesser charges, such as a simple disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct charge, if you don't want the record of alcohol intoxication. 

Whether or not you'll be able to arrange a plea at all depends on the willingness of the prosecutor to deal with you. As a general matter, as long as you don't have a criminal record and you didn't do anything harmful, the prosecutor may be willing to go easy on you as a first offense- however there are no guarantees.

Your best bet is to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help you explore your options to pleading to a lesser charge or to accepting a plea for a lesser penalty.