Beer in a brown paper bag

[Uzoma]

Why do people drink it that way?

I never see people drinking a fizzy drink out of a brown paper bag.

[..BLoNdiE..]

LoL good question....sadly i dont think there is a reason for people doing it...

[vehelpfulguy]

So the police do not know they are drinking alcohol.

I went to New York a few years ago and there are a lot of winos in certain areas.

It is illegal to drink alcohol on a public street in the USA so they were ALL drinking with their bottles inside a brown paper bag.

If you have seen it in the UK I guess it may be for the same reason.

[heathfield]

I've seen American forces doing the same outside the USA. It's illegal for them, too, to be seen drinking alcohol in public.

[The Tree]

well i have heard that its not actually drinking alcohol in public thats illegal but that showing the label is.its considered advertising.i know that this story goes around and maybe thats why some of them do it.of course theres other reasons but thats one i have heard quiet a few times

[Ethel]

In many towns and cities in the UK there are alcohol free zones which means it is illegal to drink alcohol in the street or any public area.

But from my experience it is not beer that is being drunk from within the bag but a horrible cocktail involving meths or similar industrial high strength alcohol.

[joko]

i doubt the police would get involved because a drunk 'advertised' a beer...they are freely visible on any shelf in shops so i don't see how having it in your hand is advertising.

perhaps you mean in films and tv? - then it would certainly be advertising.

[Not Marv Coo]

I work at a convenience store here in Iowa, USA, and we sell a lot of beer, so I can answer this question.

It varies fom state to state, but it is typically illegal to drink alcohol on a public street here, although this is often disregarded on occasion (football games).

It is also illegal for a patron to posess an 'uncovered' alcohol container. 6-packs, 12 packs and cases of beer need no extra container, and their cardboard carrying cases have this covered. However, single bottles of beer, wine or liquor require extra covering, which is the reason for the brown paper bag.