Which Texas Beaches is it Legal to Drink Alcohol On?

(Surfside Beach, Texas) - It is summertime in Texas! Yes, I know it doesn't officially turn to summer until June 21. But the kids are out of school, we're past the Memorial Day weekend, so it's summer.

This summer, one plan on the calendar may be to visit a beach in Texas. While enjoying some time in the sand, you may want to indulge in an adult beverage or two. Surprisingly, it's not legal to do that on every Texas beach.

Drinking Alcohol on the Beach in Texas

Enjoying some time with your toes in the sand and the sea breeze blowing in your face is a must for many of you. We have some decent white sand beaches created on a couple of lakes in East Texas but it doesn't feel the same as an actual beach. Just like those shorelines in East Texas, it's not legal to drink on every gulf beach in Texas.

There is no state law that determines where it's legal to drink alcohol on a Texas beach. That's left up to the cities along those beaches. Before you go to a particular beach, and you want to drink alcohol there, be sure to check local ordinances before going (mysanantonio.com).

Texas Beaches Where it's Legal, and Illegal, to Drink Alcohol

So which beaches is it legal to bring a cooler to and enjoy an adult beverage with your family and/or friends?

Where it's Illegal to Drink Alcohol:

Any beach that's part of a state park (Texas Parks and Wildlife)
City-owned beaches in Galveston
San Luis Pass-Vacek Bridge in Galveston
Stewart Beach in Galveston
Surfside Beach between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Port Aransas during Spring Break

Where it's Legal to Drink Alcohol:

County-owned beaches
South Padre Island
Corpus Christi beaches
Surfside Beach between 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Port Aransas outside of Spring Break

Punishment for Illegally Drinking on a Texas Beach

If you are caught drinking on a beach where it's illegal, you can be charged with a class C misdemeanor and up to a $500 fine. Don't bring glass bottles to a beach, either, even if it's legal to drink. Glass bottles are prohibited on every beach in Texas.