Nothing sounds better on a sweltering summer day in Texas than heading down to your favorite beach with some friends, some food and a cooler full of cold brews. But is it even legal to drink alcohol on the beach in Texas? The answer is, it depends.
Is it legal to drink alcohol on the beach in Texas?
The answer to whether or not it’s legal to drink alcohol on the beach in Texas depends on what beach you’re visiting and who controls it. There are different rules for beaches that are owned and maintained by counties and cities. And there are different rules on public lands, too. At some beach accesses, it even depends on what time of day it is.
Where is it illegal to drink alcohol on the beach in Texas?
It is illegal to have alcohol at any beach that is part of a state park.
“It is against park rules to drink or display an alcoholic beverage in a public place at any time. All outdoor areas are public in a state park,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states in its frequently asked questions, or “FAQ” page online.
That means that drinking is off-limits at popular surfside state park destinations, like Mustang Island State Park outside of Corpus Christi. But the park’s proximity to the Padre Island National Seashore, where the rules are different, has left plenty of visitors confused before.
“There has been some confusion lately about the alcohol laws here at the state park,” Mustang Island State Park officials said in a 2015 Facebook post.
“PUBLIC consumption or display of alcoholic beverages is PROHIBITED in all state parks including Mustang Island State Park and is strictly enforced!” officials said.
The city of Galveston also prohibits alcohol consumption at its city-owned beaches from 16-Mile Road to Farm-to-Market Road 3005 and the San Luis Pass-Vacek Bridge, according to the city’s code of ordinances. Alcohol consumption is also prohibited on beaches between 10th Street and 61st Street along the seawall and at Stewart Beach.
Over in Surfside Beach, a blue law relic makes alcohol consumption illegal from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sundays. And Port Aransas prohibits alcohol on the beach during Spring Break.
While some Texas beaches allow visitors to consume alcohol, it is illegal at any beach within a state park. And glass containers are prohibited on beaches statewide. (Halfpoint Images/Getty Images)
Where can you drink alcohol on the beach in Texas?
County-owned parks are generally a safe bet for knocking back a few brews. That includes Galveston County-owned beaches. So, even though it’s illegal to have alcohol on the beach inside the city limits, you’re free to consume alcohol on East Beach and on the Bolivar Peninsula.
It’s also legal to consume alcohol at all the beach accesses on South Padre Island – both those owned by Cameron County and those maintained by the city. That includes the best beach in Texas, Isla Blanca Park, and also E.K. Atwood Park, and Cameron County Beach Accesses #5 and #6.
“You can have open containers or alcohol on the beach no problem as long as you’re of age,” South Padre Island City Manager Randy Smith recently told MySA.
The city of Corpus Christi also allows alcohol on its beaches. And on the nearby Padre Island National Seashore, which is maintained by the National Park Service, it is generally permissible to have alcohol.
Can you get in trouble for drinking alcohol on the beach in Texas?
Yes, you can get in trouble if you bring alcohol to a beach where drinking is not permitted. For instance, as a class C misdemeanor, you could face up to a $500 fine for bringing alcohol to a state park. You can also face fines for bringing glass bottles – for any kind of beverage, not just alcoholic ones – onto a Texas beach. That’s because glass bottles and glass containers are prohibited at beaches across the state.
This article originally published at Is it legal to drink alcohol on the beach in Texas? Depends on the beach.