Open Container People Alcohol Public Laws Drive Cities

In the United States, "open container laws" "prohibit" (do not allow) people to drive a "vehicle" (automobile; car) with an "open bottle" (a bottle of alcohol that has been opened). These laws prohibit open bottles even if only the "passenger" (a person who rides in a car, but does not drive it) is drinking, without sharing it with the driver. The "intent" (what is supposed to happen, or what one hopes will happen) of the law is to reduce "drunk driving" (when people drive cars in dangerous ways because they are under the influence of alcohol and cannot think clearly).

Some open container laws also "restrict" (place limits on) drinking alcohol in public places, such as sidewalks and parks. But there are ways to make exceptions, such as getting permission to have open containers for special outdoor events in public places.

Open container laws "vary by state" (are different in each state). Some cities have gained "fame" (being known by many people) or "notoriety" (fame for a bad thing) for not having open container laws. For example, the cities of Butte, Montana; Hood River, Oregon; and Erie, Pennsylvania allow people to drink from open bottles in public areas. The cities of New Orleans, Louisiana and Savanna, Georgia also allow people to drink alcohol from open containers in public areas, but the containers have to be plastic, not glass or "aluminum" (metal). In parts of Nevada, the law is more "complex" (detailed and confusing), because people may have open containers in most public areas, but not in parking lots and not near the store where the alcohol was "purchased" (bought).