MovieChat Forums > Double Indemnity (1944) Discussion > Drinking + Driving?

Drinking + Driving?

posted 12 years ago by o1977jp
5 replies | jump to latest

One quick scene shows Neff having a beer in his car at some car hop place. Was it not illegal back then to have an open alcoholic beverage in a car?

[–] roaringgulch 10 years ago

Neff narrates, "I stopped into a drive-in to have a beer. The one I'd wanted all along."

Drunk driving was illegal, of course, but I don't know about open beverage containers. It appears to me that Neff drinks the one beer while the car's motor is off.

That said, it's a very interesting scene. I wonder if any states have drive- through places where one can drink and then immediately get back on the highway?

[–] psdhart 9 years ago

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/09/drinking-while-driving-isnt-illegal-in-all-states.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_open_container_laws

[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

sounds like a relaxing thing to do. 

"Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life!" - Cannonball Adderley

[–] cdjunkee-1 9 years ago

Back then drunk driving wasn't made as big a deal as today. Cops would pull you over and tell you to slow down if you were driving erratically. There were not as many Cars on the Road as there are today. If you lived in the Country even less Cars. At one time you could have a Beer at 18 and party in a College Dorm. It wasn't until the early 80's when MADD went into full swing.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 5 years ago

Neff certainly did not get drunk from one beer.