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Can you drink non-alcoholic beer while driving in California?
My friend and I were driving around the other day, and she freaked out because she said I was drinking and driving. I was drinking a non-alcoholic beer—isn’t that legal in California?
Sarah Gray · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Most states prohibit open containers of alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, while driving a vehicle, but depending on the percent of alcohol by volume (ABV), you probably can drink non-alcoholic beer while driving in California.
Specifically, California law states that drivers and passengers must refrain from drinking any beverage with .5% or more ABV. Though all non-alcoholic beers contain a small amount of alcohol, most contain less than .05% ABV. So, yes, you can drink it while driving in California.
Though your non-alcoholic beverage is technically legal, that won’t save you from having to explain yourself to a police officer or possibly even in court if you’re pulled over while drinking it. The simplest way around this is to just drink something truly non-alcoholic instead, but if you insist, be sure you’ve got your
proof of insurance
ready for when you get pulled over with that suspicious container.If you’re looking for a new
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- Gregory R.
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