CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
I just completed my CHL class and they said that there is "no legal limit" to alcohol when carrying and that means you cannot carry a gun or have it in the car if you go to a restaurant and have wine or beer with dinner. if you do, you are committing and offense while carrying a handgun. in other words, i cannot have a gun with me or on my person after i eat dinner and drink wine or beer or whatever REGARDLESS of whether I am considered legally intoxicated (0.08%) or not. just the fact that i drank something with dinner makes me in violation. If I do not have a CHL and carry a gun in my auto and go to dinner and drink wine, I am not in violation unless I am legally intoxicated. this doesnt make sense. Is this really true? so if i go out to dinner or a party, i must leave my gun at home if i intend to have even just one alcoholic drink. true????
- TexasComputerDude
- Senior Member
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 4:47 pm
- Location: Lufkin, TX
- Contact:
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
getting a chl is just like getting married... no more drinking, partying, women, late nights, fun......
jk
jk

Glock 30 - main ccw
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Welcome to the forum.
The statement that you cannot touch alcohol while carrying is untrue, though the belief is widespread. The legal standard for a violation is carrying while intoxicated. Intoxicated has a legal definition.
This issue has been debated here dozens of times: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It is officially a dead horse.
- Jim
The statement that you cannot touch alcohol while carrying is untrue, though the belief is widespread. The legal standard for a violation is carrying while intoxicated. Intoxicated has a legal definition.
This issue has been debated here dozens of times: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It is officially a dead horse.

- Jim
Fear, anger, hatred, and greed. The devil's all-you-can-eat buffet.
- Captain Matt
- Senior Member
- Posts: 507
- Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:43 pm
- Location: blue water
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
There's no lower limit for driving either.
"hic sunt dracones"
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Enforcement is 100% officer discretion.
If he smells it, he can arrest you for it.
If he even thinks he smells it, he can arrest you for it.
If he smells it, and does not think you are impaired, he can let you go.
You can be stumbling down drunk, and if the officer does not deam you a threat, then he can let you go.
Ever play Russian Roulette?
Me neither.
Best to stay dry when packing. (.)
If he smells it, he can arrest you for it.
If he even thinks he smells it, he can arrest you for it.
If he smells it, and does not think you are impaired, he can let you go.
You can be stumbling down drunk, and if the officer does not deam you a threat, then he can let you go.
Ever play Russian Roulette?
Me neither.
Best to stay dry when packing. (.)
- Oldgringo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 11203
- Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:15 pm
- Location: Pineywoods of east Texas
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Nice try, Jim.seamusTX wrote:Welcome to the forum.
The statement that you cannot touch alcohol while carrying is untrue, though the belief is widespread. The legal standard for a violation is carrying while intoxicated. Intoxicated has a legal definition.
This issue has been debated here dozens of times: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It is officially a dead horse.![]()
- Jim
While I agree with you, this apparently is not a

Greg
- The Annoyed Man
- Senior Member
- Posts: 26885
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:59 pm
- Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
- Contact:
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
I'm waiting for the bathroom with your CW while drunk thread to start. Until then, none of this means anything to me.Oldgringo wrote:Nice try, Jim.seamusTX wrote:Welcome to the forum.
The statement that you cannot touch alcohol while carrying is untrue, though the belief is widespread. The legal standard for a violation is carrying while intoxicated. Intoxicated has a legal definition.
This issue has been debated here dozens of times: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It is officially a dead horse.![]()
- Jim
While I agree with you, this apparently is not ato others. Perhaps someone will resurrect the "how to go to the bathroom with your CW" question...again.
Greg

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
#TINVOWOOT
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
#TINVOWOOT
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
At the Post Office.The Annoyed Man wrote: I'm waiting for the bathroom with your CW while drunk thread to start. Until then, none of this means anything to me.

Glock Armorer - S&W M&P Armorer
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
In the port-a-john in the parking lot.USA1 wrote:At the Post Office.The Annoyed Man wrote: I'm waiting for the bathroom with your CW while drunk thread to start. Until then, none of this means anything to me.
I couldn't resist.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
And when posting!Griz44 wrote:Best to stay dry when packing. (.)

When in doubt
Vote them out!
Vote them out!
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
tacticool wrote:And when posting!Griz44 wrote:Best to stay dry when packing. (.)


KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
You guys are why mods have gray hair.
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Play nice now children!!Crossfire wrote:You guys are why mods have gray hair.

"I don't like repeat offenders, I like DEAD offenders!" -- Ted Nugent
"Not everyone can be born with common sense, some are born liberals." -- M218
"Not everyone can be born with common sense, some are born liberals." -- M218
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
I was told in my class that no you are not allowed to carry even after one beer with dinner. For me, i am okay with this and i just leave it in the trunk of my car. I was told you can still keep it in the car, but it cannot be within reach of you. My instructor told me about the "3 step rule". He said that if it takes you more than three steps to get to your gun, it is not considered "carrying concealed" in your car. He went on to say that if you keep it in your trunk, it is not within reach of you so you are not carrying concealed. If however, it is in my glove box, then yes, i am breaking the law and carrying while under the influence Has anyone heard of this "rule"?
Hook'em Horns!
Class of 2007
“I am actually for gun control. Use both hands." - Gov. Rick Perry
Class of 2007
“I am actually for gun control. Use both hands." - Gov. Rick Perry
Re: CHL carrying after drinking at restaurant
Someone who is intoxicated cannot legally drive, carry a concealed weapon, or even be out in public.
Someone who is not intoxicated can do all those things. That's the law.
For your other question, having something in the trunk of a car makes in not on or about your person. The general rule is that if you can reach it without substantially changing your position, it is on or about your person.
However, there is a crazy-quilt of case law about this issue, for example, whether a locked box that you can reach from the driver seat is sufficient.
Also every state his different laws about carrying in vehicles and different case law.
- Jim
Someone who is not intoxicated can do all those things. That's the law.
For your other question, having something in the trunk of a car makes in not on or about your person. The general rule is that if you can reach it without substantially changing your position, it is on or about your person.
However, there is a crazy-quilt of case law about this issue, for example, whether a locked box that you can reach from the driver seat is sufficient.
Also every state his different laws about carrying in vehicles and different case law.
- Jim