Politics & Government
Should Passengers be Allowed to Drink Alcohol in the Car?
The Wentzville Board of Aldermen discussed whether the city should create a policy to stop passengers from drinking in cars.
The Board of Aldermen held a discussion during their last meeting to determine whether the city should work on a policy forbidding alcohol consumption in vehicles.
Right now, Missouri state law forbids only the driver of a vehicle from drinking, meaning passengers in a car can drink alcohol so long as they are 21-years-of-age or older.
drafted a bill that would outlaw passengers drinking in vehicles. Harrison said not allowing passenger to drink would help police control potentially intoxicated drivers. Only party buses and limousines would be exempt from the proposed law.
“We have a lot of problems with the driver handling a drink to the passenger (when they get pulled over),” she said. “We have no mechanism to stop this.”
said he was in support of passing a law banning all alcohol consumption in vehicles.
“I find absolutely no reason for a person to be in a vehicle with an open container of alcohol,” Gosset said.
and , however, said they prefered if the state took the lead on the issue and passed a statewide ban on passengers consuming alcohol.
A bill prohibiting alcohol consumption by passengers could be up for first reading at the board’s next meeting, June 13 at 6 p.m.
What do you think? Should passengers in a car be allowed to consume alcohol? Tell us in the comments section of this story.