Nashville Unscripted · Nashville Laws
Nashville Open Container Laws: What You Can and Can’t Do
The plastic cup is legal. The bottle isn’t. The pedal tavern ban is real. Here’s exactly where the lines are.
Nashville open container laws confuse more visitors than almost any other rule in the city — and the confusion is understandable. You see people walking down Broadway with drinks. You see bars handing out cups to go. Some of it is legal. Some of it isn’t.
Here’s exactly what the law says, what you can actually do, and where the lines are that you don’t want to cross.
The Solo Cup Law: Nashville’s Baseline Rule
Nashville’s open container law is commonly called the “Solo Cup Law” — and once you understand it, the whole system makes sense.
The law states that it is a violation for any person in a public area — streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking lots, parking garages, or any area generally open to the public — to possess beer, ale, wine, or other alcoholic beverage in a glass, aluminum, or metal container unless that container is commercially sealed.
✓ Legal
- Walking Broadway with a plastic cup
- Paper cup from a licensed bar
- To-go cup poured by a bartender
✗ Illegal
- Walking with an open beer bottle
- Open can in public
- Any glass container open in public
That’s why every bar on Broadway will pour your drink into a plastic cup before you walk out the door. That’s not just courtesy — it’s the law. The plastic cup is what makes walking with a drink legal in Nashville. The bottle or can is what makes it illegal.
What’s Not Legal — Even in a Plastic Cup
The Solo Cup Law doesn’t make all public drinking legal. There are important limits:
You cannot bring your own alcohol from outside. The plastic cup rule applies to drinks purchased from licensed establishments. Cracking open your own beer and pouring it into a plastic cup doesn’t make it legal — the drink needs to come from a licensed vendor.
Public intoxication is a separate charge. Being visibly and disruptively drunk in public can result in a public intoxication charge regardless of what container your drink is in. The cup makes the container legal. It doesn’t protect you from consequences of how drunk you are.
Under 21 is zero tolerance. The open container allowances apply to people 21 and over. Anyone under 21 with an open container — cup, bottle, or otherwise — is in violation of the law.
Public transit. Open containers are prohibited on Nashville’s public transit system.
The Pedal Tavern Ban — The Rule Nobody Knows Until It’s Too Late
⚠ Catches Visitors Off Guard
Metro Nashville passed an ordinance banning open containers of alcohol on unenclosed, operating party vehicles — including pedal taverns, open-air party buses, and similar vehicles. If you’re on a moving pedal tavern in Nashville, you cannot legally have an open drink. Violations carry a possible fine of $50. Metro Police actively enforce this near Broadway entertainment vehicle zones.
If you’ve booked a pedal tavern experience and were expecting to drink while pedaling — you can’t, legally. Some operators have adapted to serve drinks before or after the ride. Check with your specific operator about their current policy before you show up.
Enclosed party buses with full roofs and walls operate under different rules — the ban applies specifically to open-air vehicles. Confirm with your operator before booking if the drinking experience is part of why you’re booking.
Broadway Specifically: What the Entertainment District Actually Allows
Lower Broadway operates under the Solo Cup Law as described above. You can walk with a plastic cup drink purchased from a Broadway bar. You cannot carry glass or metal containers.
During major events — CMA Fest, New Year’s Eve, certain festival periods — portions of Broadway may be designated as closed entertainment districts where additional open container allowances apply within the designated perimeter. These are temporary and event-specific.
Worth Monitoring
There was an ordinance proposed that would have banned even paper and plastic cups — effectively ending the Solo Cup allowance entirely. That hearing has been pushed out indefinitely, so for now the existing law stands. If you’re planning a Nashville trip specifically around the open container culture of Broadway, confirm current rules haven’t shifted before you go.
Open Containers in Vehicles: Different Rules
Having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle — even as a passenger, not the driver — is illegal under Tennessee law. The open container must be sealed or stored in the trunk or a locked glove compartment. This applies to rideshares as well — taking your Broadway drink into your Uber is not legal.
The practical implication: finish your drink before you get in the car. Or leave it at the bar. Don’t carry it into a rideshare, and definitely don’t carry it into your own vehicle.
Open Container Violations: What Happens
A standard open container violation in Nashville — having a glass or metal container in a public area — is a Class C misdemeanor. The fine can run up to $50, though court costs can push the total toward $200.
There is no jail time for the open container violation itself. However, an open container stop can escalate quickly if an officer observes signs of impairment. What starts as an open container check can become a field sobriety test, which can become a DUI arrest. The container violation is minor. What follows it doesn’t have to be.
For the full picture on DUI laws in Tennessee — the BAC limits, the 2026 law changes, and what a DUI actually costs — read our Nashville DUI laws guide. Understanding both before a night on Broadway is worth five minutes of your time.
The Practical Guide for a Broadway Night Out
- —Accept the plastic cup. When a bar offers to pour your drink into a to-go cup, take it. That’s what makes walking legal. If they don’t offer, ask. Most Broadway bars are set up for exactly this.
- —Don’t bring your own. The cup you’re carrying needs to have come from a licensed establishment. Your own supply doesn’t qualify under the Solo Cup allowance.
- —Plan your rideshare sober. Decide how you’re getting home before the night starts. Arrange the Uber before you’re in no condition to make good decisions. Don’t get in the car with your drink.
- —Know the pedal tavern rules. If your group has a pedal tavern booked, confirm with the operator what the current drinking policy is before you show up expecting an open bar on wheels.
- —Keep it in a cup if you’re walking. The moment it goes back into a bottle or can in public, you’re in violation. At the end of a long night on Broadway it’s an easy mistake.
If You Get Cited
An open container citation in Nashville is a Class C misdemeanor — relatively minor but still a misdemeanor on your record. If you receive a citation, you have the option to contest it in Metro Nashville court. For a simple open container citation, most people pay the fine and move on.
If the citation escalated into additional charges, or if you’re dealing with anything beyond the citation itself, consulting with a Tennessee attorney is worth doing. Find a Tennessee attorney through LegalZoom here.
Nashville is genuinely one of the best cities in the country for a night out. The open container culture on Broadway — plastic cups, live music pouring out of every door, walking between bars — is part of what makes it special. Understanding the rules just means you can enjoy it without an unexpected complication ruining the trip.
For everything else you need to know about Nashville — where to stay, how to get around, parking, and what the city is actually like — our complete Nashville guide covers it all.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and enforcement practices are subject to change. Always verify current regulations with Metro Nashville or a licensed Tennessee attorney before relying on this information.