Question about campsite policies

[tim1970]

I have noticed around Texas that the majority of the public campgrounds (especially State Parks) have a policy of no alcohol. The signage varies from the strict "No alcoholic beverages of any kind permitted", to the less strict "public display or consumption prohibited".

Now, my wife and I are at the age where we have grown kids (and grandkids), and have no desire to have loud "parties" while we camp. However, we both do enjoy having an adult beverage while sitting around the campfire.

I am not trying to start a debate about drinking. I am just looking for advice from people that do like to have a responsible adult beverage while camping.

Do you feel like the signs are posted to give authorities the ability to control any loud and crazy campers that are disturbing other campers? Or do you feel like they are really trying to prohibit any and all consumption, even though it might be done responsibly?

[wa8yxm]

Many states prohibit the presence or consumption of Alcoholic beverages in state parks.. Michigan (Where I used to hang a microphone) is one of 'em. Story follows.

Private parks the rules vary.. But volation can get you anything from
Loss of booze
Temporary loss of booze (pick it up at the park office/ranger station when you leave)
Arrest or Appearance Ticket.

The story:
Got a call of a car in the creek, he missed the bridge, from the park rangers at a state park..
Driver had multiple convictions for driving under influence, on parole, NO BOOZE was a condition (i won't do the whole list)
He'd gone to a party on the beach with his buddies, Got plastered, and missed the bridge..

What he did not miss was his parole officer. who met him at the police station, where he flunked the breath test, and..... Got to go back to jail to serve out the rest of his days no trial needed since he was already convicted.

When they say NO BOOZE. They mean it.

[spoon059]

Yeti has some really nice can koozies, but I've noticed that the Walmart brand works just as well for substantially less money. Can't tell what's in the can when its in one of those.

I think the signs are there to give rangers a legal means to break up a loud campsite. We usually do a lot of trips with friends and family. After the kids go to bed, we usually bring out cards or other games and sit by the fire and drink some beer/moonshine and have a good, clean and quiet time.

[ktmrfs]

we frequent some such campgrounds. What we have found is that

a) we are discreate, no visibly open hard alcohol bottle,
b) beer in a cozy,
c) no open wine bottles, but wine in a glass
d) keep all this near the trailer, don't leave it visible when not present, don't get loud and we've never ever had anyone raise any issue or concern.

IMHO it's a way for the hosts to control any loud behavior.

[JIMNLIN]

Do you feel like the signs are posted to give authorities the ability to control any loud and crazy campers that are disturbing other campers?

This.
Good rule. Wished we had them back in the late '50s into the '70s era. Quite a few time we would load up at 2am in the morning and go home because of drunken parties in state and COE campgrounds.

Sometime in the '80s the state and COE changed the rules with enforcement. Drunks and problem makers are gone pretty quick.

Drink and act responsible

[wildtoad]

All state parks here in SC prohibit alcohol. They do not care what you do inside your RV. If you want to drink outside your RV then don’t flaunt it, use koozies, plastic cups, and just don’t be obvious that you are drinking alcohol.

[campinginthewoo]

Some state parks in Illinois have the no alcohol rule posted at the entrance however the rangers/hosts I have talked with say it's for the party animal/unruly guests they have no problems with the adults enjoying a cold beer or two. Responsible adults understand however unruly guests who become a problem they enforce the rule and keep the peace.

[Sandia_Man]

Yeah, see those policies in our neck of the woods too. Whether it is restricted or not we consume our adult beverages discreetly anyway. I often talk with the park rangers and they know people are consuming these items privately, it gives them another reason to chase off those acting in an unruly fashion.

[RoyB]

Here is what I do sitting under my awning sometimes in my big easy chair. I have several DALLAS Can Coozies and I will slip one over a my favorite LITE brew and have a couple of empty COLA cans sitting on the table.



It is very hard to tell which blue can is in the can cozzie.



having several pepsi cans in plain view sitting on the table helps too hehe... I don't think the rangers would say much for any of us older folks doing this anyway... Most likely for the younger getting loud party folks

Roy ken

[DutchmenSport]

For a gag Christmas Gift, a fellow co-worker of mine gave me one of those double walled, thermal type drinking mugs. It's made of see-through plastic, and between the wall is a yellow-golden liquid with white crystals in it. From a distance, it looks like a cold glass of foamy beer. She gave it to me think it would be hilarious to leave it on my desk and watch our management go bonkers. Well, we did have fun with it, to say the least.

But it eventually ended up in our travel trailer, and now I like to set it out on the picnic table, in plane site. I really does look like a glass of foamy beer, even when it's empty, just sitting there.

I've left it out in almost every park we've been too... especially those that have the No-alcohol rules. .... and I've NEVER been approached about it! Not even out of curiosity by other campers, let alone park rangers, campground hosts, or park staff.... never. I still get a kick out of it tough.

We drink an occasional wine. Always in a non-discrete cup and the bottle is never outside ... anywhere we've camped at.

[Hondavalk]

jkwilson wrote:
Some states have laws prohibiting public consumption of alcohol. Kentucky is one that I know of. Some debate about where sitting around the fire in your campsite is public or not, but I agree with janstey in that quietly drinking a beer or glass of wine is unlikely to raise any concerns.

I had two rangers in Kentucky wander into my campsite and when I offered them a beer, they took me up on my offer and shot the breeze with me while they drank them. :B

[ScottG]

Similar policy here. They don't want the outward appearance of drinking. If you have it in your own camp site and aren't making a fool of yourself they leave you alone.
The rule comes in handy when people get stupid.

[Thom02099]

In this area of the Rocky Mountains, the rangers are far more concerned about unattended coolers left out (thus attracting bears), than folks discretely partaking of adult beverages.

[Lwiddis]

Our California State Parks occasionally prohibit alcohol such as at Silver Strand over the Labor Day weekend but otherwise no general prohibition.

[toedtoes]

I agree with the above. If you are having a glass of wine with dinner or a cold beer in the afternoon, etc., you're unlikely to get in trouble.

If you are sitting with a six pack on your lap or a keg next to you or have an outdoor cocktail bar set up, you will likely be fined or worse.

[jkwilson]

Some states have laws prohibiting public consumption of alcohol. Kentucky is one that I know of. Some debate about where sitting around the fire in your campsite is public or not, but I agree with janstey in that quietly drinking a beer or glass of wine is unlikely to raise any concerns.