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Is it true that in America you can't drink alcohol in public and how strictly is this enforced? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi, I'm from Germany and here people can drink unlimited amounts of beer and wine in public at 16 years old and at 18 you're allowed to also drink every other strong alcoholic beverage publicly such as Vodka.

I was reading online that in the US it's not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in public even if you're over 21 and even if it's something mild like beer. If I understood it correctly you're not even allowed to be drunk in public? I was wondering if this is actually true and why that is the case.

And I wonder how strictly this is enforced. I assume it probably varies strongly between places so maybe you could give an example for where you are from or experiences from other places.

Like even if it's technically illegal do people still drink a nice cold beer in the summer without getting in trouble? Because it's hard for me to imagine that anyone would say something when someone simply enjoys a nice cold beer during the hot summer in a park or something.

And could you even be arrested when just enjoying the summer day by drinking beer? Cause that had to be the worst vibe killing situation that would make me paranoid of ever drinking in public.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago (10 children)

I'm not a lawyer so I'm not familiar with the exact letter of the law, but as an American, I can tell you about my first-hand experiences. You can drink in public within restaurants/bars/places that serve alcohol for those 21+, but you have to stay within the confines of that place (if there's outdoor seating you can drink there). You can be drunk as long as you're not causing a scene. You can also enjoy alcohol in/on a private residence. I would be more careful about taking a beer to a public park, but you could probably get away with it provided you're not causing a scene and you clean up after yourself.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (7 children)

Couldn't you just fill the beverage in a non see through water bottle? I have one of these insulated metal bottles where no one would notice what's in there.

I guess the biggest problem probably is to "not make a scene" cause here in Germany we young people typically have many public spots where people drink lots of alcohol, listen to loud music and party. These aren't restricted places, those are just public spots of cities where many young people gather and typically party through the night (like on grass fields at a river or lake).

Idk how strict America is in that regard cause the media often portrays it as if there are lots of harsh police officers because people are allowed to carry guns and are more violent/unpredictable.

In Germany at least where I'm from you rarely see any police officers and if you ever see some (maybe twice a year when there's a car accident) they were just normal introverted people. One time I was very drunk when I was 17 or so and I talked to the police and they were just chill. I guess the typical Germans are more nerdy type people and the worst they could get is to argue about a math problem but I never see them get physical.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

Dummkopf, it is called en passant! Check this rulebook I brought!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Lmao

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think it was in response to the last part of your comment:

I guess the typical Germans are more nerdy type people and the worst they could get is to argue about a math problem but I never see them get physical.

it reads like a little pantomime of how the commenter thinks such an argument in Germany might go.