Why Drive-Through Daiquiris Are Still Legal in Louisiana

🐊 KNGT 🐊 | Louisiana — Only in Louisiana could someone look at an open container law and say, “Hold my daiquiri… but don’t put the straw in yet.”

Yep, drive-through daiquiris are a very real thing here, and they’ve been keeping us cool since the early 1980s. But how on earth is it legal to hand someone a frosty cup of liquid vacation through a car window? The answer, my friends, is one little strip of tape.

How Does the Drive-thru Daiquiri Loop Hole Work in Louisiana?

Here’s the magic trick:
• The Tape: That tiny piece of tape slapped across the lid? It officially “seals” the cup. That’s right, your drink is considered closed as long as the tape is there.

• No Straw in the Lid: The straw stays on the side of the cup, usually taped to the cup, atleast it is where I go. But stick it in while you’re driving, and bam, now you’re breaking the law.

• In the Car, Still Closed: As long as you don’t rip that tape or stab the straw in, you can drive home legally with a frozen daiquiri riding shotgun.

Basically, the law says your cup isn’t “open” until you make it open. Louisiana found a way to keep both the lawyers and the thirsty folks happy.

The History of the “Drive-Thru” Daiquiri

The idea started in Lafayette in the early 1980s. David Irvin opened the first Daiquiri Factory and came up with the taped-lid solution after Louisiana passed its “open container law”. So instead of giving up, he got creative, and that’s how the little piece of tape saved the day. Now, it’s a cultural staple. Tourists shake their heads in disbelief, locals just shrug and say, “Yeah, that’s Louisiana for you.”

Where else can you order a burger, boudin balls, and a daiquiri, all without leaving your car? That little piece of tape has become part of Louisiana legend.

So the next time you see someone proudly carrying a taped-up cup, remember: Give a Cajun a Problem, and he’ll give you a solution.