Drinking while driving happens more than you think. Watch our video report at the bottom of the page.
By
Nick Spinetto, WINK News
Story Created:
May 5, 2008 at 12:45 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 7, 2008 at 10:59 AM EDT
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - A special investigation about drinking while driving home.
We all know that getting drunk, then getting behind the wheel is illegal, but so is drinking alcohol while you are driving. You may be surprised just how many people do it anyway.
We uncovered a dangerous trend speeding its way into Southwest Florida: People buying single beers getting behind the wheel, and drinking while driving. It's so common, it's earned a name, "road sodas". People drinking beer, as if it were a can of Coca-Cola.
The sale of single beers isn't illegal. But having an open container while either driving or sitting in a car is. It doesn't matter if it's the driver or passenger. The law says having an open container is illegal.
To see how bad it is in Southwest Florida, a WINK producer, photographer and myself went on an undercover investigation. We went to several gas stations and convenience stores where single beers are sold. We wanted to see if it it's happening here.
On our first day out, we were only an hour into our investigation when we saw people carrying single beers.
We saw three guys come out of a gas station in Fort Myers. While tailing them, we saw the passenger take a sip of the beer. We confront them. To our surprise, all three were drinking, including the driver. The driver had the open container right between his legs. "We just barely opened it right now," said one person in the car. When the driver got out of the car, he moved the beer, but our camera catches it and it's open. We pushed harder for answers and they come clean, they drank the beer as they drove.
WINK News: "You know you're not supposed to do this, right?" Driver: "Yea, I know."
So what's their reason?
WINK News: "We want to know why you did it? Driver: “We live here and we’re already home.”
But not everyone who pops a top and drives lives close. We followed another man who bought a beer. He drove more than five miles and we caught him a couple of times taking a sip of beer. As he got out of his car, he had the open container in his hand.
WINK: "We caught you drinking and driving. Anything you want to say as to why you were drinking and driving?" Driver: "(laughs) I didn't do it. Goodbye."
We showed our video to the Fort Myers Police Department. They were concerned. "It's something we need to address," said Sgt. William Quick, of the Fort Myers Police Department.
wait until one of these idiots plows into one of your relatives cars killing them. maybe than it will hit home a bit more
Wednesday, May 7 at 1:41 PM upset mom wrote ...
You are so worried about one beer being drank while driving yet you wont do a interview on alchol being sold to someone under 21 which to me is just as bad we need to stop this and then maybe they wont be buying one beer at a time yes the same place you are hounding for selling single beers are also selling to minors I have info on Hustlers in Cape Coral selling to minors all the time and no one wants to take this story on I think you are all chicken to take this story on
Wednesday, May 7 at 1:33 PM Ryan wrote ...
They're called road-POPS, not road-"sodas".
Wednesday, May 7 at 10:36 AM Jenkins wrote ...
Does it matter if a person buys one single beer, or a twelve pack, and takes one out.
Selling beer warm does not matter. Someone who is addicted to booze will drink it warm or cold. Think about it.
The only solution would be, is to outlaw all booze, or make it a feloney to posses booze in any moving vehicle, opened or not. Including wine!
Wednesday, May 7 at 9:05 AM big e wrote ...
this is ridiculous. 1 beer will not get you a dui and a $4000 fine.
Wednesday, May 7 at 2:49 AM Andrew wrote ...
I just don't get why the guy in shotgun can't toss back a few. Makes no sence, he has no road obligations. I go ahead and mix up a jack and coke in the coke bottle and drink it while my buddy is driving, doesn't make any diffrence on his ability to handle himself on the road. Pergaming is not a crime.
Wednesday, May 7 at 12:13 AM what wrote ...
In other news, when you outlaw something a certain percentage of people will still do it, shocking.
Tuesday, May 6 at 11:43 PM The Captain Morgan! wrote ...
What do you as reporters do at the end of the day? Maybe; WE the working people of SW florida should follow YOU and see what you are hiding behind the wheel; Do you talk on your phone perhaps and endagering perples lives. along with THE CORRUPT law enforcement. You call this news. Try harrasemant! Why dont you follow the police after they bust a grow house. Why dont you check there cars?
Let it Go and get a life
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:15 PM ferdinandus wrote ...
Why is this even news? People talking on Cell Phones are just as dangerous as drunk drivers and I see a lot more people on Cell Phones than people drinking while driving (be it sodas or beer)
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:14 PM PJ wrote ...
I wouldnt drink while driving, but I am typing this on my laptop and talking on my cell phone all while switching lanes on I75 in my BMW right now.
Tuesday, May 6 at 8:02 PM buddy wrote ...
I used to have a drink when I would drive but I soon found the dangers involved where too much so now I just read the paper instead.
Tuesday, May 6 at 6:40 PM Jared Lorz wrote ...
Most people on the road are idiots anyways talking on their cell phones, eating mcdonalds, doing their makeup, drinking a beer on the way home shouldn't be a crime unless you want to make it illegal to drink coffee because it also alters your response time.
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:36 PM nonya wrote ...
open container laws are nothing more than another sin tax for the one purpose of raising revenue. If a person is DUI, take them to jail, if not,leave them alone. Land of the Free? What happened?
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:32 PM tb wrote ...
guzzle one beer on an empty stomach and you're likely not good drive; the carbonation will push it deeper into your digestive system and you will definitely feel it. The real problem has to do with how stats are experienced in the flow of everyday life, as stats are the only real, plausible access to the problem. Some are compelled/convinced by them, others are not. Why? How? What manages emergence (of best practice in individuals) and how does this either work or break down?
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:26 PM terrible wrote ...
i'm drinking a cold one while driving.So I'm getting a kick out of these replies
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:20 PM Curious George wrote ...
Florida isn't unique in this regard. In Louisiana, you can drive up to the liquor store drive through and get a hurricane to go. Two quesses as to whether or not those get home before drivers are drinking them.
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:08 PM JC wrote ...
I'd feel much safer driving next to a guy with a single roadie than I would driving next to someone who just walked out of a bar/restaurant after 'just one or two'
90% of the time the alcohol hasn't even entered their system before they get home...
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:05 PM Minn wrote ...
Drinking A beer while driving is as risky as having a soda, and I would bet that cell phones cause exponentially more issues. Think this way, an average commute is 15 minutes, most people won't have finished their beer, and it would be at least another 10 minutes before the alcohol entered the system.
Those of you that think drinking A beer, not drunk, while driving is causing accidents or any sort of a problem are so off base and out of touch with reality that it's just stunning.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:48 PM Johnny Boy wrote ...
Dear Tommy Boy,
If you are going to try to belittle an entire state about THEIR education system, try to make sure you get your their/there/they're and your where/were usage correct. Wether?
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:40 PM Eli wrote ...
You guys are seriously creepy. Following people around who are just drinking a beer in their car? Man.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:35 PM JAck wrote ...
who cares.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:21 PM sandy wrote ...
Who cares if you just have one drink. Don't you think after work you need a drink before getting home. You might had a stressful day
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:20 PM jd wrote ...
You may want to do a little checking before you write a story- the open container law for passengers was ruled unconstitutional months ago, though it still applies to drivers. Not advocating for the practice, understand, but it's not a great idea to just wander up to peoples cars and accuse them of breaking the law with a camera in their faces. I'd sue, if I were them.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:10 PM Tommy Boy wrote ...
Wow! Only in Florida would this be a news story. Fantastic journalism their guys! This is what happens when you live in a state were there is still a debate about wether evolution should be taught in schools. And I thought Texas was bad.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:26 PM Phil wrote ...
Wow you caught someone intoxicated with 3 oz of beer? Good job!!
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:25 PM PJWRITES wrote ...
You can make all kinds of laws, but you can't get all people to follow those laws. That's why we have police. How about we just leave this issue for the police and the offenders to hash out, instead of introducing YET ANOTHER law to cover the law already in effect? Sheesh. Do we need to pass a law to satisfy EVERYONE who has the least little complaint about anyone else? Tolerance isn't a brand new idea and neither is responsibility for your own actions.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:20 PM I'll take it one step further... wrote ...
All beer should be sold hot, at approximately 160 degrees. Even the English wouldn't drink it then.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:17 PM Smart Guy wrote ...
Do you have ANY idea what heat does to beer? It RUINS it, the brewers go to all that trouble to cold filter/frost brew the beer, send it to the stores on refrigerated trucks, and you morons want to make it warm? How about I leave your milk out in the sun for 3 hours before we put it up for sale?
Drinking and driving is stupid, punish the stupid, not the brew, and you journalists, focus on something important, like who our next president is going to be, or the corrupt cops and politicans.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:16 PM HiRoller wrote ...
I like to buy single craft beers just to try different styles. Singles are typically not sold warm.
I wait until I get home to drink it.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:09 PM Alex wrote ...
Or, how about we make it legal to sip a beer while driving. What's the difference between having a beer at a restaurant and driving home, versus having the same single beer while you're behind the wheel? As long as your BAC is below the legal limit I really don't see the problem.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:09 PM Mike Hunt wrote ...
God made marijuana, man made alcohol; who do YOU trust?
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:58 PM Luke wrote ...
Alright, this IS illegal, but it's not really hazardous. You have to don't get a DUI for having a BAC of about .01 or .02....which is all a beer's gonna do for ya. Nobody's going to start swerving all over the place over a BEER. Drinking while driving isn't an issue; DRUNK driving is. They're very different, to the extent that drinking in limited quantities does not equate to drunknness.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:46 PM Urkel wrote ...
Selling only warm beers isn't going to stop these people from drinking behind the wheel. People that do this tend to be alcoholics, they don't care if the beer is warm, they want the alcohol as quick as possible. They don't have the willpower to wait until they get home like most people do.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:46 PM Dave wrote ...
I see you are keeping my comment to yourselve's.
Journalism does not include spying on citizens.
You have no authority and it's an abberation to freedom.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:34 PM Drinking and driving is just fine... wrote ...
There's nothing wrong with having a beer while driving. One single beer isn't going to cause you to veer off the road and kill someone. Soccer moms on their cell phones and are more likely to do damage. Get over it. I'm on my way to the liqour store now, and I'm about to pound a sixer and throw the cans out my window and on your lawn... Yee haw!
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:33 PM Sean wrote ...
Honestly open container laws fall under the category of government nanny stating. It is ok for somebody to stop for happy hour, drink three or four beers, and drive home. But to drink a single on the ride home should be illegal? What sense does that make again? The passenger laws are even worse. Is driving drunk bad? Yes. Is punishing actions because they could lead to driving drunk bad? Absolutely.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:31 PM MADD at MADD wrote ...
This isn't news. How about if I have ONE beer at a bar, and immediately drive home. how is that going to affect a 200lb man? NONE. There's no difference. drinking A beer in the car is stupid, but certainly isn't going to cause a problem.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:25 PM DP wrote ...
Oh, yeah...follow me, reporters. I dare you.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:21 PM Jeff wrote ...
Maybe The should repeal the law, it is pretty pointless.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:19 PM Brenda wrote ...
10:22 PM MARY wrote ...HEY JIM, WHAT WOULD ONE BEER DO? A DUI AND $4000
No, you are wrong. One beer does not make you legally drunk. So, no DUI. Open container violation yes.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:16 PM steve wrote ...
a beer is a beer warm or cold. selling warm beer would actually speed up the drinking process because it is extremely painful to chug an icy cold beverage.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:14 PM kyle wrote ...
One beer on my way home is way safer than sitting at a bar and drinking one beer and then driving home. Simple biology and chemestry notes that the duration of time between when I ingest the alcohol and drive causes me to go from nonintoxicated to intoxicated to nonintoxicated. So if I drink one beer and then get in my car by the time I am getting to my neighborhood full of children I am more intoxicated than I would have been if I was still finishing my beer as I pull into my neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:11 PM in rod we trust wrote ...
You stay classy, Florida.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:10 PM A Texan wrote ...
Do you hear yourselves? Try to remember this is America and we were founded on the seemingly forgotten notion that individuals should have liberty.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:09 PM Larry wrote ...
This is BS. I remember in the "Good Old Days" in New Hampshire it was legal to stop at the store and buy a beer for the ride home. Most if not all DUIs get that way BEFORE they get into the car. I used to be able to take a beer with me on the way to the store (not drunk BTW) in a Saturday afternoon. Now the open container law now means I "pound it down" and finish it BEFORE getting in the car. The MADD crowd would very much LOVE to see us go back to 1920 when Prohibition went into effect.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:09 PM J. Grant wrote ...
All of you are approaching this issue from the
wrong angle.
We need to ban driving.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:06 PM Boon wrote ...
Yeah, warm beer's really gonna stop 'em. That's the ticket.
That just means they buy warm beer, refrigerate it, and then bring a cooler along with them. Duhhhhr...
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:01 PM FPM wrote ...
I used to drink warm beer and drive when I was a homeless rodeo clown but not any more. Now I am a world class magician !
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:00 PM Thanatos wrote ...
I bet drinking one beer is less dangerous than talking on the phone while driving a minivan/SUV full of kids.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:58 PM Rusty Shackelford wrote ...
"I believe that ALL beer should be required to be sold warm." and you might as well ban the sell of ice too. If someone wants to drink and drive, they will.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:51 PM Beau wrote ...
You "uncovered a dangerous trend"? This is news?? Are you going to tell me that there are people who cheat on their spouses? Stopping the sale ot there cans does nothing, stiffening the penalties for DUI's is the only way to do it. It's not the beers fault it's so delicious.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:07 PM beeradvocate wrote ...
I agree with the warm beer suggestion. Banning singles will unfortunately put to death the craft beers that are only sold as singles as they are sold in 750ml bottles. Im sure even if they do approve the single beer law, AB will start selling "Duo Packs" of beer as a workaround.
Tuesday, May 6 at 11:01 AM MARGE wrote ...
All of you that think one beer while driving is okay, until you or a loved one is killed or badly hurt. Then you will understand why it shouldn't be done. Think of someone else for a change and drink your beer at home.
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:45 AM Anton wrote ...
I like beer. And potatoes.
Tuesday, May 6 at 9:13 AM RW wrote ...
wink you are way behind this has been the norm for years.
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:49 AM scott wrote ...
I like cold beer, but not while driving!!!!
Tuesday, May 6 at 6:18 AM Duke wrote ...
I dont condone drinking and driving but this is unrealistic. You ban singles, people will get a six or case and crack one of those open. You going to ban all beer? I dont think so. It definitely gets the point across but you are walking a fine line of trespassing and invasion of privacy with your report. And the "suprised" officer on the news...come on, they know this happens. It was as alarming as he pretended on the news report. This was just a conservative stab that opens up a big can of worm
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:59 AM anonymous wrote ...
There is so many white trash rednecks in Fort Myers that they can't wait to get home to drink a beer??
Monday, May 5 at 11:26 PM Lynn wrote ...
I think that news reporters have no business bothering consumers for what they purchace in a store. It is not there business! not only are they interupting peoples lives, they are hurting the alchohol business, in this ever stressfull ecconomy. What reight did Nick Sponetto have in following targeting people who are not harming anyone.
Monday, May 5 at 10:22 PM MARY wrote ...
HEY JIM, WHAT WOULD ONE BEER DO? A DUI AND $4000.
Monday, May 5 at 9:32 PM Pete wrote ...
Drinking anything while driving is illegal. Lets sell warm soda at McDonalds, cold coffee in the morning. I have seen some eating, putting on makeup, reading and so on.
Yes having a beer while driving is illegal but so are the others.
Besides if there is no beer available a nip will do just fine. So lets ban Alcohol all too gether... oh yea that has already been tried.
Monday, May 5 at 7:07 PM Steven Sheldon wrote ...
I believe that ALL beer should be required to be sold warm. This prevents not all, but most, people from drinking behind the wheel directly after the purchase. This will only slow the drinkers coming from the convenient stores. There will still be many people drinking and driving, but this would cut down the number of problems tremendously! Stores would save money as well, since they wont have to run so many coolers all the time!
Monday, May 5 at 6:10 PM Lyn LeBlanc wrote ...
Don't make the single beers available cold. Only sell them warm. No one likes warm beer.
Monday, May 5 at 6:09 PM Jim Ringer wrote ...
Why don't you get a life what is 1 beer going to do
Monday, May 5 at 6:07 PM Sandra wrote ...
I dont think banning single beers would make any difference..but if the police watched more carefully at the quickmarts of who came out with a single beer (bagged)..that would makie all the difference once they got busted !!
Monday, May 5 at 5:21 PM andy kersting wrote ...
Let the people that want to drink & drive (once they are caught) ride on an EMS wagon for a couple of shifts & then maybe they might realize what can happen. Banning does nothing as Woody says. they will just buy larger quantities. So educate them on Fri & Sat nites.
Monday, May 5 at 1:27 PM Woody wrote ...
I don't think that the beer should be banned. That would only encourage drivers to buy 6 or 12 packs and drink those while driving, which is consuming a whole lot more alcohol while driving. However, if drinking while driving is illegal, THAT is what should be enforced. I sometimes buy the single can, but I do have the common sense to drink it at home where I can enjoy it.
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Thursday, May 8 at 12:19 AM pa 19320 wrote ...
wait until one of these idiots plows into one of your relatives cars killing them. maybe than it will hit home a bit more
Wednesday, May 7 at 1:41 PM upset mom wrote ...
You are so worried about one beer being drank while driving yet you wont do a interview on alchol being sold to someone under 21 which to me is just as bad we need to stop this and then maybe they wont be buying one beer at a time yes the same place you are hounding for selling single beers are also selling to minors I have info on Hustlers in Cape Coral selling to minors all the time and no one wants to take this story on I think you are all chicken to take this story on
Wednesday, May 7 at 1:33 PM Ryan wrote ...
They're called road-POPS, not road-"sodas".
Wednesday, May 7 at 10:36 AM Jenkins wrote ...
Does it matter if a person buys one single beer, or a twelve pack, and takes one out. Selling beer warm does not matter. Someone who is addicted to booze will drink it warm or cold. Think about it. The only solution would be, is to outlaw all booze, or make it a feloney to posses booze in any moving vehicle, opened or not. Including wine!
Wednesday, May 7 at 9:05 AM big e wrote ...
this is ridiculous. 1 beer will not get you a dui and a $4000 fine.
Wednesday, May 7 at 2:49 AM Andrew wrote ...
I just don't get why the guy in shotgun can't toss back a few. Makes no sence, he has no road obligations. I go ahead and mix up a jack and coke in the coke bottle and drink it while my buddy is driving, doesn't make any diffrence on his ability to handle himself on the road. Pergaming is not a crime.
Wednesday, May 7 at 12:13 AM what wrote ...
In other news, when you outlaw something a certain percentage of people will still do it, shocking.
Tuesday, May 6 at 11:43 PM The Captain Morgan! wrote ...
What do you as reporters do at the end of the day? Maybe; WE the working people of SW florida should follow YOU and see what you are hiding behind the wheel; Do you talk on your phone perhaps and endagering perples lives. along with THE CORRUPT law enforcement. You call this news. Try harrasemant! Why dont you follow the police after they bust a grow house. Why dont you check there cars? Let it Go and get a life
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:15 PM ferdinandus wrote ...
Why is this even news? People talking on Cell Phones are just as dangerous as drunk drivers and I see a lot more people on Cell Phones than people drinking while driving (be it sodas or beer)
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:14 PM PJ wrote ...
I wouldnt drink while driving, but I am typing this on my laptop and talking on my cell phone all while switching lanes on I75 in my BMW right now.
Tuesday, May 6 at 8:02 PM buddy wrote ...
I used to have a drink when I would drive but I soon found the dangers involved where too much so now I just read the paper instead.
Tuesday, May 6 at 6:40 PM Jared Lorz wrote ...
Most people on the road are idiots anyways talking on their cell phones, eating mcdonalds, doing their makeup, drinking a beer on the way home shouldn't be a crime unless you want to make it illegal to drink coffee because it also alters your response time.
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:36 PM nonya wrote ...
open container laws are nothing more than another sin tax for the one purpose of raising revenue. If a person is DUI, take them to jail, if not,leave them alone. Land of the Free? What happened?
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:32 PM tb wrote ...
guzzle one beer on an empty stomach and you're likely not good drive; the carbonation will push it deeper into your digestive system and you will definitely feel it. The real problem has to do with how stats are experienced in the flow of everyday life, as stats are the only real, plausible access to the problem. Some are compelled/convinced by them, others are not. Why? How? What manages emergence (of best practice in individuals) and how does this either work or break down?
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:26 PM terrible wrote ...
i'm drinking a cold one while driving.So I'm getting a kick out of these replies
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:20 PM Curious George wrote ...
Florida isn't unique in this regard. In Louisiana, you can drive up to the liquor store drive through and get a hurricane to go. Two quesses as to whether or not those get home before drivers are drinking them.
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:08 PM JC wrote ...
I'd feel much safer driving next to a guy with a single roadie than I would driving next to someone who just walked out of a bar/restaurant after 'just one or two' 90% of the time the alcohol hasn't even entered their system before they get home...
Tuesday, May 6 at 5:05 PM Minn wrote ...
Drinking A beer while driving is as risky as having a soda, and I would bet that cell phones cause exponentially more issues. Think this way, an average commute is 15 minutes, most people won't have finished their beer, and it would be at least another 10 minutes before the alcohol entered the system. Those of you that think drinking A beer, not drunk, while driving is causing accidents or any sort of a problem are so off base and out of touch with reality that it's just stunning.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:48 PM Johnny Boy wrote ...
Dear Tommy Boy, If you are going to try to belittle an entire state about THEIR education system, try to make sure you get your their/there/they're and your where/were usage correct. Wether?
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:40 PM Eli wrote ...
You guys are seriously creepy. Following people around who are just drinking a beer in their car? Man.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:35 PM JAck wrote ...
who cares.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:21 PM sandy wrote ...
Who cares if you just have one drink. Don't you think after work you need a drink before getting home. You might had a stressful day
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:20 PM jd wrote ...
You may want to do a little checking before you write a story- the open container law for passengers was ruled unconstitutional months ago, though it still applies to drivers. Not advocating for the practice, understand, but it's not a great idea to just wander up to peoples cars and accuse them of breaking the law with a camera in their faces. I'd sue, if I were them.
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:10 PM Tommy Boy wrote ...
Wow! Only in Florida would this be a news story. Fantastic journalism their guys! This is what happens when you live in a state were there is still a debate about wether evolution should be taught in schools. And I thought Texas was bad.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:26 PM Phil wrote ...
Wow you caught someone intoxicated with 3 oz of beer? Good job!!
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:25 PM PJWRITES wrote ...
You can make all kinds of laws, but you can't get all people to follow those laws. That's why we have police. How about we just leave this issue for the police and the offenders to hash out, instead of introducing YET ANOTHER law to cover the law already in effect? Sheesh. Do we need to pass a law to satisfy EVERYONE who has the least little complaint about anyone else? Tolerance isn't a brand new idea and neither is responsibility for your own actions.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:20 PM I'll take it one step further... wrote ...
All beer should be sold hot, at approximately 160 degrees. Even the English wouldn't drink it then.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:17 PM Smart Guy wrote ...
Do you have ANY idea what heat does to beer? It RUINS it, the brewers go to all that trouble to cold filter/frost brew the beer, send it to the stores on refrigerated trucks, and you morons want to make it warm? How about I leave your milk out in the sun for 3 hours before we put it up for sale? Drinking and driving is stupid, punish the stupid, not the brew, and you journalists, focus on something important, like who our next president is going to be, or the corrupt cops and politicans.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:16 PM HiRoller wrote ...
I like to buy single craft beers just to try different styles. Singles are typically not sold warm. I wait until I get home to drink it.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:09 PM Alex wrote ...
Or, how about we make it legal to sip a beer while driving. What's the difference between having a beer at a restaurant and driving home, versus having the same single beer while you're behind the wheel? As long as your BAC is below the legal limit I really don't see the problem.
Tuesday, May 6 at 3:09 PM Mike Hunt wrote ...
God made marijuana, man made alcohol; who do YOU trust?
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:58 PM Luke wrote ...
Alright, this IS illegal, but it's not really hazardous. You have to don't get a DUI for having a BAC of about .01 or .02....which is all a beer's gonna do for ya. Nobody's going to start swerving all over the place over a BEER. Drinking while driving isn't an issue; DRUNK driving is. They're very different, to the extent that drinking in limited quantities does not equate to drunknness.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:46 PM Urkel wrote ...
Selling only warm beers isn't going to stop these people from drinking behind the wheel. People that do this tend to be alcoholics, they don't care if the beer is warm, they want the alcohol as quick as possible. They don't have the willpower to wait until they get home like most people do.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:46 PM Dave wrote ...
I see you are keeping my comment to yourselve's. Journalism does not include spying on citizens. You have no authority and it's an abberation to freedom.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:34 PM Drinking and driving is just fine... wrote ...
There's nothing wrong with having a beer while driving. One single beer isn't going to cause you to veer off the road and kill someone. Soccer moms on their cell phones and are more likely to do damage. Get over it. I'm on my way to the liqour store now, and I'm about to pound a sixer and throw the cans out my window and on your lawn... Yee haw!
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:33 PM Sean wrote ...
Honestly open container laws fall under the category of government nanny stating. It is ok for somebody to stop for happy hour, drink three or four beers, and drive home. But to drink a single on the ride home should be illegal? What sense does that make again? The passenger laws are even worse. Is driving drunk bad? Yes. Is punishing actions because they could lead to driving drunk bad? Absolutely.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:31 PM MADD at MADD wrote ...
This isn't news. How about if I have ONE beer at a bar, and immediately drive home. how is that going to affect a 200lb man? NONE. There's no difference. drinking A beer in the car is stupid, but certainly isn't going to cause a problem.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:25 PM DP wrote ...
Oh, yeah...follow me, reporters. I dare you.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:21 PM Jeff wrote ...
Maybe The should repeal the law, it is pretty pointless.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:19 PM Brenda wrote ...
10:22 PM MARY wrote ...HEY JIM, WHAT WOULD ONE BEER DO? A DUI AND $4000 No, you are wrong. One beer does not make you legally drunk. So, no DUI. Open container violation yes.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:16 PM steve wrote ...
a beer is a beer warm or cold. selling warm beer would actually speed up the drinking process because it is extremely painful to chug an icy cold beverage.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:14 PM kyle wrote ...
One beer on my way home is way safer than sitting at a bar and drinking one beer and then driving home. Simple biology and chemestry notes that the duration of time between when I ingest the alcohol and drive causes me to go from nonintoxicated to intoxicated to nonintoxicated. So if I drink one beer and then get in my car by the time I am getting to my neighborhood full of children I am more intoxicated than I would have been if I was still finishing my beer as I pull into my neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:11 PM in rod we trust wrote ...
You stay classy, Florida.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:10 PM A Texan wrote ...
Do you hear yourselves? Try to remember this is America and we were founded on the seemingly forgotten notion that individuals should have liberty.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:09 PM Larry wrote ...
This is BS. I remember in the "Good Old Days" in New Hampshire it was legal to stop at the store and buy a beer for the ride home. Most if not all DUIs get that way BEFORE they get into the car. I used to be able to take a beer with me on the way to the store (not drunk BTW) in a Saturday afternoon. Now the open container law now means I "pound it down" and finish it BEFORE getting in the car. The MADD crowd would very much LOVE to see us go back to 1920 when Prohibition went into effect.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:09 PM J. Grant wrote ...
All of you are approaching this issue from the wrong angle. We need to ban driving.
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:06 PM Boon wrote ...
Yeah, warm beer's really gonna stop 'em. That's the ticket. That just means they buy warm beer, refrigerate it, and then bring a cooler along with them. Duhhhhr...
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:01 PM FPM wrote ...
I used to drink warm beer and drive when I was a homeless rodeo clown but not any more. Now I am a world class magician !
Tuesday, May 6 at 2:00 PM Thanatos wrote ...
I bet drinking one beer is less dangerous than talking on the phone while driving a minivan/SUV full of kids.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:58 PM Rusty Shackelford wrote ...
"I believe that ALL beer should be required to be sold warm." and you might as well ban the sell of ice too. If someone wants to drink and drive, they will.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:51 PM Beau wrote ...
You "uncovered a dangerous trend"? This is news?? Are you going to tell me that there are people who cheat on their spouses? Stopping the sale ot there cans does nothing, stiffening the penalties for DUI's is the only way to do it. It's not the beers fault it's so delicious.
Tuesday, May 6 at 1:07 PM beeradvocate wrote ...
I agree with the warm beer suggestion. Banning singles will unfortunately put to death the craft beers that are only sold as singles as they are sold in 750ml bottles. Im sure even if they do approve the single beer law, AB will start selling "Duo Packs" of beer as a workaround.
Tuesday, May 6 at 11:01 AM MARGE wrote ...
All of you that think one beer while driving is okay, until you or a loved one is killed or badly hurt. Then you will understand why it shouldn't be done. Think of someone else for a change and drink your beer at home.
Tuesday, May 6 at 10:45 AM Anton wrote ...
I like beer. And potatoes.
Tuesday, May 6 at 9:13 AM RW wrote ...
wink you are way behind this has been the norm for years.
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:49 AM scott wrote ...
I like cold beer, but not while driving!!!!
Tuesday, May 6 at 6:18 AM Duke wrote ...
I dont condone drinking and driving but this is unrealistic. You ban singles, people will get a six or case and crack one of those open. You going to ban all beer? I dont think so. It definitely gets the point across but you are walking a fine line of trespassing and invasion of privacy with your report. And the "suprised" officer on the news...come on, they know this happens. It was as alarming as he pretended on the news report. This was just a conservative stab that opens up a big can of worm
Tuesday, May 6 at 4:59 AM anonymous wrote ...
There is so many white trash rednecks in Fort Myers that they can't wait to get home to drink a beer??
Monday, May 5 at 11:26 PM Lynn wrote ...
I think that news reporters have no business bothering consumers for what they purchace in a store. It is not there business! not only are they interupting peoples lives, they are hurting the alchohol business, in this ever stressfull ecconomy. What reight did Nick Sponetto have in following targeting people who are not harming anyone.
Monday, May 5 at 10:22 PM MARY wrote ...
HEY JIM, WHAT WOULD ONE BEER DO? A DUI AND $4000.
Monday, May 5 at 9:32 PM Pete wrote ...
Drinking anything while driving is illegal. Lets sell warm soda at McDonalds, cold coffee in the morning. I have seen some eating, putting on makeup, reading and so on. Yes having a beer while driving is illegal but so are the others. Besides if there is no beer available a nip will do just fine. So lets ban Alcohol all too gether... oh yea that has already been tried.
Monday, May 5 at 7:07 PM Steven Sheldon wrote ...
I believe that ALL beer should be required to be sold warm. This prevents not all, but most, people from drinking behind the wheel directly after the purchase. This will only slow the drinkers coming from the convenient stores. There will still be many people drinking and driving, but this would cut down the number of problems tremendously! Stores would save money as well, since they wont have to run so many coolers all the time!
Monday, May 5 at 6:10 PM Lyn LeBlanc wrote ...
Don't make the single beers available cold. Only sell them warm. No one likes warm beer.
Monday, May 5 at 6:09 PM Jim Ringer wrote ...
Why don't you get a life what is 1 beer going to do
Monday, May 5 at 6:07 PM Sandra wrote ...
I dont think banning single beers would make any difference..but if the police watched more carefully at the quickmarts of who came out with a single beer (bagged)..that would makie all the difference once they got busted !!
Monday, May 5 at 5:21 PM andy kersting wrote ...
Let the people that want to drink & drive (once they are caught) ride on an EMS wagon for a couple of shifts & then maybe they might realize what can happen. Banning does nothing as Woody says. they will just buy larger quantities. So educate them on Fri & Sat nites.
Monday, May 5 at 1:27 PM Woody wrote ...
I don't think that the beer should be banned. That would only encourage drivers to buy 6 or 12 packs and drink those while driving, which is consuming a whole lot more alcohol while driving. However, if drinking while driving is illegal, THAT is what should be enforced. I sometimes buy the single can, but I do have the common sense to drink it at home where I can enjoy it.
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