“Well, here’s another question. It’s a bit crazy is this question, I think we know the answer to this as soon as I say what this is. “Is it illegal to have open alcohol in the car?”
Well actually I’ve had a look and I can’t find that it’s illegal but it’s crazy. Isn’t it? This is crazy. You’re driving in your car concentrating, you’ve got your friends in your car, that’s bad enough of a distraction, just having your mates in the car, you’re trying to focus on the car, the road ahead and someone suggests opening up the beer and getting a glass of wine out.
That surely is a crazy idea.
This will be a serious distration to you and you’re the one in control of your own safety and the safety of all these passengers in the car and all the other road users around you. Do you really want people having alcoholic drinks right next to you in the car.
I don’t think so, whilst it’s not specifically illegal. You’ll be running a higher risk of distraction and, if you stop by the police, they’ll have great concerns about why you’re driving along with open alcohol in the car and that’s going to take you a long time to get away, back onto your journey.
So alongside that is the potential of a careless driving charge and that’s £50 at the roadside and £200 fine, if I remember correctly. So, no wait till you get to your aprty before somebody has the alcohol but absolutely not you.”
