# Drinking beer in the pool or hot tub - Declasse? Rude? Acceptable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812 "2013-02-19T17:25:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/21 "2013-02-19T20:48:05Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Hotel pool? Very rude. > > Private pool? Up to the owner. Hotel pool? Depends on the hotel. Private pool? Required. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/22 "2013-02-19T21:19:14Z")
Here in Texas it is the law, you are required to drink beer in the pool, not drinking while floating down the Guadalupe? Felony. JK but in most cases it is aok in my book. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/23 "2013-02-19T21:59:57Z")
Two differences between pools and hot tubs. Hot tubs are for soaking and relaxing; pools are more for swimming and splashing. In a hot tub, you’re almost always leaning back against the edge of the tub; you’ve got a place to set your beer. A pool, OTOH, has abundant interior. Drinking beer (or whatever) in a hot tub makes perfect sense to me. But a pool just doesn’t seem to be a conducive environment for drinking, and I can’t recall having seen anyone try IME. I really don’t want to be drinking in a pool when someone does a cannonball several feet away, or some kid bounces off my arm and causes me to spill my beer, or whatever. I’m not saying nobody should drink in a pool. I just can’t see why you’d want to, unless all the kids and young folks who might use the pool as a _pool_ were already in bed, and you didn’t have to worry about someone kicking water in your face or joggling your elbow. ---
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/24 "2013-02-19T23:08:41Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > One of my favorite things is drinking a beer in the hot tub after a day of skiing. Even in the big group tubs common at condos. And I am not alone in this vice. Plunk it right in the snow between sips. 15 degree air, 32 (or less) degree beer and 104 degree water. Ahhhh. No doubt. In most of the ski condos or hotels that I’ve been to, beer-drinking hot-tubbers probably outnumber the non-drinkers 4:1. Drinking in actual swimming pools or larger, pool-type hot springs (ie. where you can swim laps) is a lot less common or accepted, though. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/25 "2013-02-20T01:52:28Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think this is where the disconnect is for me. When I go to the pool, I go to swim, not to stand around. And swimming while drinking sounds like a bad idea for me. Aha. At least now I have an understanding where this crazy idea came from. You are confusing different kinds of swimming pools. The ones at hotels are built for cooling off and splashing around, preferably with an alcoholic beverage. I agree it would be strange to drink a beer while in the Olympic-sized lap pool at the Y. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/26 "2013-02-20T02:36:23Z")
Don’t much care where you’re drinking your beer, but if it’s out of a can, that’s just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/27 "2013-02-20T03:07:32Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Don’t much care where you’re drinking your beer, but if it’s out of a can, that’s just wrong. Well, Keystone comes in those specially-lined cans, so it’s as good as your bottled “bier.” Keith Stone says pick up a 30-pack today! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/28 "2013-02-20T03:26:58Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Don’t much care where you’re drinking your beer, but if it’s out of a can, that’s just wrong. But pools mostly\* do\* have rules about glass bottles at the pool. So, cans. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/29 "2013-02-20T13:39:47Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Don’t much care where you’re drinking your beer, but if it’s out of a can, that’s just wrong. That’s why they make Dale’s Pale Ale and Sierra Nevada Torpedo in cans. A lot of nice beer comes in cans nowadays. That said, you still should take the time to pour it in a glass so you can really enjoy it. That’s why they make those red plastic cups. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/30 "2013-02-20T14:29:22Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’m not saying nobody should drink in a pool. I just can’t see why you’d want to, unless all the kids and young folks who might use the pool as a _pool_ were already in bed, and you didn’t have to worry about someone kicking water in your face or joggling your elbow. That’s the thing. The pool was full of very young kids. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/31 "2013-02-20T14:30:50Z")
> [@Delayed\_Reflex](#): > > No doubt. In most of the ski condos or hotels that I’ve been to, beer-drinking hot-tubbers probably outnumber the non-drinkers 4:1. I can see that. But there are some health risks associated with doing that. Every hot tub I’ve seen has pretty strict rules about use, including a no-drinking rule. ---
**Author:** ![birdbrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@birdbrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birdbrain)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/32 "2013-02-20T15:02:54Z")
I see no problem but I learned from the best, a true champion. I fondly recall my dad, floating on his back in a Holiday Inn swimming pool, a can of PBR perched precariously on his stomach. He called out to my mother, "look, I bet I’m the only one in the pool who can do this! " My mother was mortified. Ahhh, memories:)🍺 ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/33 "2013-02-20T15:19:46Z")
“That’s the thing. The pool was full of kids.” Your point being? Kids shouldn’t see adults drink beer? Is it just beer the OP or others have a problem with? Umbrella drinks, soft drinks okay or is it no beverages in pool? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/34 "2013-02-20T15:25:08Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Your point being? Kids shouldn’t see adults drink beer? Risk of spillage. So no, no umbrella drinks either. Nor milk, nor juice, nor Pepto Bismal. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/35 "2013-02-20T15:29:33Z")
Assumption: No signs are posted. Also, you touched on two different things in your OP. Bringing a beer in to a pool OR a hot tub. No big deal. Pouring ANY amount of beer into the pool is rude and uncouth. Yes, that little amount of beer means nothing in terms of the volume of the entire pool. It’s like peeing in the pool. The fact is, if you’re in the pool; there’s pee in there… GUARANTEED. However that doesn’t make it OK to stand on the edge of the pool and take a piss in there… It’s ridiculous that if it’s not posted, that I shouldn’t be allowed a beverage in a pool or hot tub. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say it’s expected behavior at resort type destinations. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/36 "2013-02-20T15:31:17Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Risk of spillage. So no, no umbrella drinks either. Nor milk, nor juice, nor Pepto Bismal. Ha ha I’d rather sit in a vat of milky, alcoholic, juiced up Pepto water all day than steep overly long in a pool full of snotty, uncooth germ vectors and I gave birth to and love a snotty, uncooth little germ vector! Infectious agents are far and away more concerning than a few drops of PBR. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/37 "2013-02-20T15:46:49Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I can see that. But there are some health risks associated with doing that. My first thought was “who cares if it’s gauche? It could kill you!” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/38 "2013-02-20T15:58:08Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Oh, please. Some of us are capable of having a beer or two without losing control of our bodily functions. Speak for yourself mister. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/39 "2013-02-20T16:31:59Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Assumption: No signs are posted. Fact: “No food or drink in pool area.” Crossed out on my last day there. I posted that in my OP. Fact: The sign for the hot tub specifically prohibited alcoholic beverages. They all do. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812/40 "2013-02-20T16:35:56Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Fact: “No food or drink in pool area.” Crossed out on my last day there. I posted that in my OP. Crossed out as a form of vandalism by a poolside reveler, presumably? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-beer-in-the-pool-or-hot-tub-declasse-rude-acceptable/650812.md?page=3)