Just leave the lid off and enjoy the fumes smell. You can't get drunk if you're not drinking it, and "smelt" means something else.
Yeah, the laws in Illinois (where I live) are a lot stricter than in the UK when it comes to alcohol in cars. Over there, itโs actually
illegal for anyoneโdriver or passengerโto have an open container of alcohol in a vehicle thatโs on any public road. That includes even a reclosed bottle thatโs been opened before, or anything showing signs itโs been drunk from.
It doesnโt matter if youโre not drinking it or if the carโs parked on the roadside. If the sealโs broken and itโs within reach of the driver or passengers, youโre breaking the law. The only legal place to keep it is
in the trunk (boot),
a locked glove box, or
behind the rear seats in something like an SUV.
Itโs technically a
petty offence, but police take it seriously. Youโll likely get
ticketed and fined up to about $1,000, and in some cases, especially if thereโs any suspicion of DUI or underage drinking, the
vehicle can be impounded on the spot. If the driverโs licence is already restricted or under suspension, it can also lead to
further penalties or even loss of licence.
So itโs not like the UK where having an open bottle in the car isnโt automatically a crime, Illinois treats it as a zero-tolerance issue. Even passengers can get cited for it, and if the officer thinks alcohol mightโve been consumed in the vehicle, they can escalate it quickly.
Basically, if youโre in Illinois, keep the booze sealed and locked away. Otherwise you might be walking home while your car sits in an impound lot.
