When I go to OBX with my friends, we generally drink on the beach, while at/around the shops, my friends have drank in the car (not the driver). Recently, someone told me that while its ok to drink in public, its not legal to drink in the car if the driver has access to the alcohol. Does anybody know the law/have a link? :beer

Doesn't matter what the local statutes are, state law is:

From:

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-138.7.html

The snippet:

§ 20‑138.7. Transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage.
(a) Offense. – No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway or the right‑of‑way of a highway:
(1) While there is an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area in other than the unopened manufacturer's original container; and
(2) While the driver is consuming alcohol or while alcohol remains in the driver's body.


They will nail you for any open container that the driver has access to and enjoy doing it. Best not to play the game at all.

my friend has three open container charges... he's dumb as shit
i wouldn't recommend trying it

So what about just walking around outside? In Virginia, you can get drunk in public just for possessing an open container of alcohol in public (the beach, at shops, etc)

Also, thanks for the link. I couldn't get that website to load for some reason when I found it on google.

You can have CLOSED alcohol in the car as long as its "out of reach" from the driver.

No OPEN containers, PERIOD (except in the trunk I believe)

haha yea, i know at home in Virginia beach they hammer down on open container stuff

Wrightsville Beach just recently outlawed alcohol on the beach. period.

not even in plastic cups! blasphemy!