Boulder prohibits open containers of alcohol on public sidewalks, streets, parks, and Pearl Street Mall outside designated entertainment districts or licensed common consumption areas. CU football tailgates follow CU and BPD enforcement rules.
Boulder Revised Code Title 5 and Title 7 ban open containers of alcoholic beverages in public rights-of-way and parks unless a Common Consumption Area is established under Colorado liquor law (CRS §44-3-301). The Pearl Street Mall has hosted limited consumption events but is otherwise dry. CU football game days bring concentrated enforcement; tailgating at Folsom Field follows CU lot rules and Colorado state alcohol law, with BPD covering surrounding streets. First offenses are typically civil tickets, but combined intoxication or disorderly conduct charges may escalate. Licensees with sidewalk patios must keep beverages within the licensed footprint.
Open container citations carry municipal fines. Combined with disorderly conduct, public urination, or fighting, charges may escalate to misdemeanor under Colorado law and trigger custody.
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