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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 1 year ago by to c/AskUSA@discuss.online
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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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[–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

Damn so it's actually a problem to be intoxicated alone, even if I drank the alcohol at home and then went to the public like to the beach?

I'm not talking about being disturbing to people but just slurring words and being euphoric where it's obvious that the person might had some drinks.

I mean how do you handle going to parties then if you have to get back home by tram or Uber and it's obvious that you had drinks? Are people actually doing something illegal if they commute home drunk (of course not driving themselves)? After I went to a club I usually drive home by bus or tram but of course I mind my own business and am calm or chat with a friend. So people might not even notice that I'm drunk but even if they did it would be completely normal and it wouldn't be illegal.

And addressing the music thing: Here (at least in my city) there are known places in the center where everyone knows that young adults go there every weekend to party. It's basically an outdoor party each weekend in the summer of maybe between 100 to 300 random people with JBL speakers etc. It's not a designated area or an event or so but they just let the people have their fun. It's just random people coming with alcohol and having fun. Doesn't this exist in America?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    It’s just random people coming with alcohol and having fun. Doesn’t this exist in America?

    I've seen it in a few places.

    Eg: Yesterday I was boating on a river and passed a dock packed full of young people doing all that stuff.

    Keep in mind that the drinking age is different between Germany and USA. Teenagers will get in trouble for public drinking, so they tend to do it in secret.

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