I’m thinking in the U.S. and Canada. For example, if you’re on vacation, you’ve checked out of your hotel room and have several hours until your flight, and you have some cans of beer left over. I know you could sneakily drink them in a park or something, but I’m just curious if there’s any way to do it that’s legal.
Upvoted for understanding everyone on this website isn’t American and referencing the countries specific to this discussion clearly in the main body of the question
Rest of the world wondering what kind of Freedom©®™ makes it illegal to drink outside?!? 😂
The freedom that puritanical Christians enjoyed to write all the laws.
You mean the freedom to pull up to a drive through liquor store (and I mean drive through, you’re inside a large barn-like structure), order a case of beer (which they place in your trunk for you), two gin and tonics which they hand you in Styrofoam cups with lids and straws, hand them some cash and drive away?
I know, that’s some awful Freedom. It’s OK that you’re jealous.
So, from what perfect country do you hail?
Eh, it’s pretty common in a lot of other countries as well. Those with significant Muslim populations, and even countries like Norway.
I grew up in Norway, but haven’t lived there for some time. When I first read this I was like “bullshit. you can drink anywhere”. But, I looked it up and you are correct. However, it is not very often enforced unless you’re being a nuisance. Drinking and driving on the other hand is taken very seriously. Don’t even gamble with that a little bit in Norway.
I first found out about this while trying to leave a bar with a bottle of beer when I was 22. I was like, “dude, I’m not wasting this, so you’re telling me I have to get smashed for the next few minutes if I was to leave the bar without wasting my drink?”
It depends on where you are. Public consumption laws are local.
In the US, off the top of my head:
- Pedestrians in Paradise, Nevada (the Vegas Strip) are allowed open containers in plastic or aluminum containers.
- The French Quarter in New Orleans has similar open container laws.
A lot of Austin, Texas too.
As of 2920, Chicago before 9pm.
In Baltimore, MD you can drink in Hamsterdam
I thought it was pretty crazy the way I found this out. I was in the French Quarter doing the usual tourist stuff and went up to a bar open to the street. They asked “for here or to go?”, then gave me a paper cup to go and the glass one packaged as a souvenir.
It really depends on the town/city. Just drink it mostly wherever you want, just do it in a reasonable way.
I’ve sat on city park picnic tables drinking beers where it’s technically not permitted. Or at beaches where it is (just no glass).
The only time I’ve ever had an issue was in a college town where cops were dicks (decades ago).
Actually, many parks do allow drinking. If you check the cities bylaws, they often state explicit locations where open containers are allowed and it often tends to be the major town parks.
Some restaurants have a “bring your own” policy. Go there, order food, and then you can drink your own drinks.
Around here (Boston), it’s because liquor licenses are so expensive and difficult to get. Some restaurants can’t afford them or for some reason can’t get one, so they let you bring your own. No corking fee
In my midwest city, you can’t have an open container in public (however, they allow passengers of cars to have open containers). The way they work around this is you put the container in a brown paper bag and drink out of it that way. You can also put it in a different container. Just don’t cause trouble and you’ll be safe almost all of the time.
Sure, the US has lots of places with no open container laws. I doubt you are going to go take a taxi outside of the city to drink a couple beers though…
If if were me? I’d give them to a homeless guy, or just leave them in my hotel room. Because yeah, most places either won’t let you bring outside drinks (besides some fancy restaurants where you will need to buy a fancy meal) or will forbid alcohol entirely. Potential to bring them home in a checked bag.
That doesn’t address the underlying question about legality.
I did. And it was covered by others. The answer is YES in the US is commonly illegal to just crack a beet.
What about a turnip?
Generally viewed favorably by the law
The alleyway behind Costco
Not that I know of, only best option I have found is getting the largest coffee cup with top you can find and fill that up with beer. Also make sure there is a place to pee.
Consider why you want to drink so badly too…
Because, drug warrior, it’s my body my choice and I should have the bodily autonomy to do as I wish.
Next, consider why the question made you so angry. Wow. I didn’t even say not to drink, I said look inward and you got defensive. that’s another warning sign
BYOB restaurants!
In a lot of places, if an establishment has a liquor licence, it is forbidden to drink your own alcohol you brought from outside. Technically you can’t bring a beer back to your hotel room from anywhere but the hotel’s own bar.
Alcohol laws are complicated.
