Scottsdale Sprinters is a Scottsdale chauffeured transportation company serving metro Phoenix. Yes. In Arizona you can drink on a party bus if you are 21 or older, you are riding as a passenger in a vehicle for hire, and the driver never drinks. Arizona's open-container law, A.R.S. § 4-251, makes it illegal to drink or hold an open container in the passenger area of a car on a public road. The same statute then carves out an exception for passengers in a bus, limousine or taxi. A chauffeured party bus or Sprinter falls inside that exception. That is the whole answer, and the rest of this guide covers the details that keep your night simple and legal.

Can You Drink on a Party Bus in Arizona? The Open-Container Law Explained

Yes. In Arizona you can drink on a party bus if you are 21 or older, you are riding as a passenger in a vehicle for hire, and the driver never drinks. Arizona's open-container law, A.R.S. § 4-251, makes it illegal to drink or hold an open container in the passenger area of a car on a public road. The same statute then carves out an exception for passengers in a bus, limousine or taxi. A chauffeured party bus or Sprinter falls inside that exception. That is the whole answer, and the rest of this guide covers the details that keep your night simple and legal.

What A.R.S. § 4-251 actually says

The statute has two parts that matter to a group booking a night out.

First, the rule. It is unlawful for any person to consume spirituous liquor while operating or riding in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle on a public highway, or to possess an open container there. An open container is any bottle, can or cup that has been opened, had its seal broken or been partly emptied. Breaking this rule is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Second, the exception. The section does not apply to a passenger in any bus, limousine, taxi or transportation-network-company vehicle while it is being used to provide that service. It also does not apply to passengers in the living quarters of a motor home. Notice the word passenger. The exception never covers the person driving, and it never covers a private car, even one with a hired driver behind the wheel. It covers a vehicle operated for hire with a professional chauffeur, which is exactly what you are booking with us.

One more point the statute does not cover: age. Arizona's separate underage-drinking law still applies inside the bus. Being a passenger in a vehicle for hire does not make it legal for anyone under 21 to drink.

Our house rules on board

The law sets the floor. Our policies set the rest, and they are short.

BYOB. We do not sell or supply alcohol. Bring what your group wants and we keep it cold in the on-board coolers and ice bins.
21 and older only, with ID. Your chauffeur may ask to see identification before the first drink is opened. No ID, no drinking.
Zero alcohol when anyone under 21 is riding. If a single passenger is under 21, no alcohol comes on board for the whole trip. This is the rule for every prom, graduation, sweet-sixteen and teen birthday booking.
Cans and plastic preferred. Glass breaks on a moving vehicle. We do not ban it, but cans, plastic cups and boxed cocktails make cleanup easier and keep the floor safe.
The chauffeur never drinks. Not a sip, not a toast. That is both the law and our standard.
Over-served guests end the trip. If someone is sick, unsafe or belligerent, the chauffeur stops the trip and we bring the group home. Nobody rides on the roof, hangs out a window or opens a door while the vehicle is moving.

Everything else is common sense. Keep drinks in cups with lids while the bus is rolling, and let the chauffeur know if you want a stop for ice or a restroom.

The exemption ends at the door

A.R.S. § 4-251 protects you inside the vehicle. It says nothing about the sidewalk. Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe, downtown Phoenix and every other Arizona city have their own open-container rules for public streets and parking lots, and they are enforced hard on weekend nights. The simple version: alcohol stays on the bus.

Finish your drink before you step off, or leave it in the cooler for the ride to the next stop. Do not carry a cup out to the curb, into a venue line or back from a bar. Our chauffeurs park in legal loading zones and walk you through this at every stop on an Old Town nightlife run, and it is the single most common thing a first-time group gets wrong.

Which vehicles work for a drinking group

Any vehicle in our fleet is a vehicle for hire under the statute, but three are built for a night out: wraparound seating, coolers, LED lighting, a sound system you can plug into and room to stand and move.

Vehicle	Seats	Rate	Minimum
	28	$250/hr	4 hours
	15	$250/hr	4 hours

Rates are hourly. 7+ hours earns 1 free hour, 12+ hours earns 2, 15+ hours earns 3. 8% tax applies. Checkout shows exactly what is charged today and when any balance is due. Tip is optional — 10/15/20% presets at checkout, and we never add one for you.

Worked example. A bachelorette group of 28 books the Party Bus (28 Pax) for a 5-hour Old Town loop: pickup at 7 PM, three bar stops, home by midnight. The fare is 5 hours at $250, or $1,250. With 8% tax the total is $1,350. Split across 28 riders, that is about $45 per person for the whole night, with the cooler stocked from your own cart and nobody arguing over who drives.

A smaller group of 15 in the Ultra Luxury Party Sprinter for the 4-hour minimum pays $1,000, or about $67 per person before tax.

Prom, graduation and teen events

If your group has anyone under 21 on the passenger list, the alcohol section of this guide does not apply to you, and we say so plainly at booking. No alcohol comes on board, no sealed bottles ride in the cooler, and the chauffeur checks the vehicle before departure. Parents can call our reservations team to confirm. The bus is still a great time: the sound system and lights work exactly the same on soda and energy drinks.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to drink on a party bus in Arizona?
Yes, for passengers 21 and older. A.R.S. § 4-251 prohibits open containers in most vehicles but exempts passengers in a bus, limousine or taxi. The driver may never drink.

Do you provide alcohol?
No. Every trip is BYOB. We supply coolers and ice; you bring the drinks. We are not a liquor licensee, so we cannot sell or serve.

Can I bring glass bottles?
You can, but we prefer cans and plastic. Glass breaks and slows the night down for everyone. Pour bottled wine or spirits into plastic cups once you board.

What if one person is under 21?
Then no alcohol is allowed on board for anyone during that trip. We do not make exceptions, even for a mixed-age wedding party or a graduation with older siblings.

Can I take my drink into the bar or out to the sidewalk?
No. Local open-container ordinances apply the moment you step off the bus. Finish it or leave it in the cooler.

Book your night

Ready to book the date for a night out where the drinks are legal and the driving is handled? Call our reservations team at (623) 986-6339, text (623) 986-6339, email reservations@scottsdalesprinters.com, or get a quote. Checkout shows exactly what is charged today and when any balance is due. Cancellation terms depend on your date and booking; read the cancellation policy before you book.