Buzz
Drinking in public? That's a no-no! Unless you’re at a tailgate, a barbecue, or you've had a rough day and just need a cold beer. Here are three clever ways to hide your alcohol when you shouldn't be drinking.
In Public: The Soda Can Sleeve Trick
If you want to drink in public without getting caught, it’s easy to stash your booze in any non-alcoholic container. You can pour vodka into a water bottle, or whiskey into your Starbucks Iced Tea cup. Or, for something colorful, just use one of those awesome insulated Klean Kanteen bottles (seriously, they’re incredible). I once drank beer at a college open mic night out of a travel coffee mug. Almost anything works.
But sometimes, these tricks aren’t enough. When authorities are on the lookout for hidden alcohol in obvious coffee cups (like at a public park or beach), it’s time to get creative: cut a Coke can and slip it over your beer like a sleeve. No one's going to give a second glance at a Coke can. Hopefully. (There are even products made for this, but why buy something when you can easily make your own?)
On a Boat: The Listerine Bottle Trick
Forget the sky-high alcohol prices on cruises. Want to sneak your own onboard? Empty out a mouthwash bottle (your breath was fine anyway), fill it with vodka, and add some food coloring to make it look legit. You can even reseal it to make it appear unused. If you want to go all out (pun intended), heat up plastic water bottles to keep the seals intact.
At a Concert: The Upside-Down Potato Chip Bag Trick
This one’s my own creation, and it can work for non-alcoholic drinks too. Many outdoor concert venues let you bring in coolers with snacks but won’t allow alcohol, and some even won’t let you bring in water. So how do you avoid paying $7 for a cheap Bud Light or bottled water? Hide them in your cooler!
My go-to method is to take an empty potato chip bag, stuff your drinks inside, and staple it shut. It’s best if you open the bag from the bottom (you know, if you planned ahead). Then, just toss it into your cooler with the rest of your snacks, and—if they don’t look too closely—you’re in the clear once you pass through security. I’ve never had my cooler searched thoroughly. You could even build a secret compartment in your cooler, but honestly, the chip bag trick is probably enough on its own. Photo by Espensorvik.
Of course, these are just a few of the options, and each situation demands its own custom strategy for hiding booze. If you’ve got any clever ideas, feel free to share them below. And good luck dealing with that hangover the next day.
