It is 100% legal to drive around St. John with an open container of beer. It is 100% illegal to drive around St. John drunk. Have fun and be safe!

tmax

As a 21 year STT Resident, I'd suggest you take tmax's response about driving with an open container with not only a very large grain of salt but a tumblerful..

Doug

It's challenging enough to drive on STJ with both hands on the wheel and all of your wits about you. I shudder to think someone (you?) might be trying it with one hand holding a drink and somewhat under the influence.

Don't drink and drive...it's a good idea anywhere you go. 🙂

I'm with Chris on this. The STJ roads are steep with wicked curves. They're narrow, often with no shoulders. At night, they're not lighted. If you're not familiar with them, they're challenging. And to put somebody in a vehicle that they're unfamiliar with, then ask them to drive on the left instead of the right, is quite an assignment. While there is no law against having an open container, it probably isn't the wisest time to be drinking.

Yes but you better have a shirt on!!! I've known people to be arrested for not having a shirt on. You certainly can drink in public (including a car) but you better have a shirt and a seatbelt on.

Chris......I actually was not considering being drnk will driving too dinner ....but would it be safe to say that many whether they have a "beverage"in hand or not will drive back from dinner drunk ??? Not trying to make this an issue but people shouldn't automatically assume that I will be driving while drunk... But I do agree that drinking and driving isn't safe .... OBTW I live in the UK half the year so driving on the left isn't a problem.... LOOKING Forward to some good times !! Thank you all tmax,STT Res,Chris,Nick and Maddie

Dear Doug,

Just a little PS about driving on the left not being a problem - it's a little more challenging because our cars here are left-hand drive, thus visibility is even more restricted. Cheers!

didn't think about the left hand drive and driving on left...now that might be tough !!! ok ok... I think I will just stay sober the whole time !!!! lol

What about a passenger with an open container?

That is not legal at home. From reading this string it looks OK in STJ? I would not think that it would be much of a safety issue. Showing responsibility by having a designated driver is a good thing, yes?

shouldn't be an issue with a passenger drinking... My biggest problem is my wife will not drive on left !!! Bummer !!

Dear Doug,

I would rather prefer not to continue this issue but I'll nonetheless add my two cents.

Since you spend six months of the year in the U.K. then you know that the drunk driving laws there are far more severe than in the USA and that people have become accustomed to appointing a "designated driver" who basically is responsible for getting people safely home. This has become entrenched in the U.K. as just a part of life.

My brother and sister-in-law, both of whom enjoy their various quaffs, take turns being the designated driver and have done so for the last 15 years when the new rules went into effect.

It's all about simple driving responsibility so basically don't drixe drunk, don't be a jerk while driving and respect and understand the different way of driving.

And please, if your passengers are having a good time in the back of your open jeep and decide to toss out their empties into the bush - PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND MAKE THEM RETRIEVE THEIR GARBAGE and keep it until they return to their island home and deposit it properly!!!

Hey, just be cool being here in the USVI and we be cool toward you too.

STT..... Thank's for your insight on this....You obviously haven't paid alot of attention to my post's and you assume that I will drive around STJ drunk ?? I don't feel the need to defend my posts (maybe another read for you)....You are however correct about the UK and drunk drivers they don't take any chances at all....you must have issues with tourists littering and I will promise that we do not and will not litter ?? You seem very angry with your post....Not sure if directed at me or all tousists ?? Thanks everyone with their help and concerns...Hope you alll have a great week !!

Use "The Force" Doug! Don't be tempted by the "Dark Side" of beer. And remember young Jedi..... taking a "Tumblerfull of salt" with anything is probably a really bad idea.

Peace..... and "May the Force Be With You!"

tmax

Doug,

Drunk driving issues aside, I think you may find drinking any kind of beverage while driving in St. John isn't real practical. If the road to and from your villa is ANYTHING like ours, you would not be able to physically do the job without both hands firmly on the wheel. And your passenger will more than likely be wearing her drink by the time all is said and done if she attempts it!

Good luck and have a great trip. We have only been back for a couple of weeks and I'm already plotting my return.

Dear Doug,

I did indeed pay attention to your posts and I truly apologise if you feel that my that my tone came across as angry. Of course I'm not angry with tourists per se. I get as angry with locals who toss containers out of their vehicles as I do with tourists who sometimes do the same thing.

I'm a 21 year STT resident (said before), a real elder person and I'm a typical Sagittarian who sometimes shoots her mouth in true Sagittarian style and then steps back and says to herself, "Oh GULP, I should probably have worded that differently and been kinder!"

So, Doug, please accept my apology if I offended you in any way.

Seems in your response to me that you rather skipped over the responses offered by several other posters...

Take the posts both from me and from others in good faith and truly enjoy your visit to the United States Virgin Islands!

Cheers, dear!

No Problem STT.. I guess I kinda "barked" too.... I too agree that drunk driving is a bad deal esp on STJ....thanks for you info !!!!

I was sitting on the balcony at the Quiet Mon Pub the other day and I saw and photographed a police officer driving his police car with a Heinekin beer in his hand. So I guess open containers work for some people, but in St. John, especially if you're staying more than a minute's drive from where you're going, you really do need TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL! You'll see when you get there!

We have a tradition every year. Once we get our rental car, we hit Starfish market, get our groceries for the week, and booze of course. On the way to our cottage in Coral Bay, we crack open the first beer of the vacation on the drive to. Nothing ever tastes so good as that beer! Please no lecturing about drinking & driving. One beer gets no buzz on at all. Three maybe............

Hmmm...I WONDERED why those people I met on the road to Coral Bay driving with ONE hand on the wheel and one hand on a beer could drive better than me with TWO hands on the wheel. They had strengthened their muscles by doing 12 ounce curls!