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Open container laws prohibit possessing and/or drinking from an open container of alcohol in certain areas. Common examples include inside an automobile, or outdoors. Some jurisdictions may even classify drinking inside a parked automobile as driving under the influence rather than merely an open container violation.

Several political aspects of these laws may reflect business-oriented concerns rather than the direct benefit-cost calculus of alcohol consumption between the individual and society; for example, bars and similar establishments frequently are strong supporters of such laws, upon the rationale that making it illegal to drink outdoors will, in effect, increase sale of bar drinks. This can be seen as the government, via legislation, indirectly subsidizing the bar-drinks market.

Exceptions sometimes exist for parks, sidewalk restaurants and bars, or specific events. Some cities are well-known for having relaxed open container laws, such as New Orleans and Las Vegas.