Yes, you can drink alcohol on the San Marcos River while on the water, drinking in public is not allowed. This implies that if you’re standing on the ground you won’t be able to keep drinking anywhere in the immediate vicinity, including parks, dams, and bridges. If you violate this restriction in any way, you might be subject to a huge fine that completely ruins your day.
Can you drink while tubing in Texas?
Yes! When tubing on the Rivers in Texas, alcohol, and food items are permitted as long as they are in “non-disposable containers.” Cans are allowed to be brought along on float trips on the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers.
Can you drink San Marcos water?
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has designated the public water system that serves the City of San Marcos as a “Superior Public Water System.” This status was earned by the City of San Marcos by exceeding the minimum requirements for running a public water system and for the water’s quality.
San Marcos River
Here are a few safety tips for you, your family, and your friends to keep in mind when spending time on the San Marcos River:
- Keep in mind that this river formed on its own naturally. Wearing a life vest is required while swimming with children and others who lack expertise.
- Don’t litter! Bring a mesh bag with you, or use the one that the Lions Club has given you. Along the shores of the river are positioned many garbage cans.
- Put on some sunblock.
- Put on caps and/or sunglasses that you won’t mind throwing away in the event that you lose them.
- Bring either a watertight container or a zip-loc freezer bag to store your essentials. It is recommended that you keep valuables either in your vehicle or at your house or hotel room.
- It is advised that you wear water shoes or sports shoes. There is a possibility of rocks in some spots.
- Consume fluids in order to keep your body hydrated.
- On the San Marcos river, you are permitted to bring coolers as well as disposable containers. No Styrofoam, thank you very much.
- Make sure the lids are fastened on each cooler.
- City Park and Rio Vista have been designated as entry and departure points for those who carry alcohol to the river with them in order to drink it while they are there.
- Please refrain from bringing any items made of Styrofoam into the river. This includes but is not limited to coolers, ice chests, cups, plates, throwaway toys, containers, floats, kickboards, rings, and swim gear.
- Bring some rope with you if you wish to connect more than one tube together.
- Dams, spillways, and bridges that are owned by the city do not permit the use of alcoholic beverages.
- If you are hiring a tube, be sure to have an identification card, a credit card, or cash with you. At both the beginning and the finish of their float, the Lions Club will be selling various food and drinks.
Parks Tips
A few helpful recommendations for you, your family, and your friends when you’re visiting our parks:
- Every night, the hours of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. constitute the park curfew, during which the parks are closed.
- Grills that use charcoal or wood are not permitted in any of the parks.
- There is a restriction of one grill per picnic table that the city has constructed, and propane grills are only permitted at such tables.
- The use of pop-up tents or shelters is restricted to one and may only take place at picnic tables that have been built by the city.
- The use of personal tables is not permitted.
- Put an end to the open drinking of alcoholic beverages in public parks by making it illegal to do so.
- Dams, spillways, and bridges owned by the city should be alcohol-free zones.
- The usage of Styrofoam-like goods, such as coolers, ice chests, glasses, plates, floats, toys, kickboards, rings, and swim gear, should be prohibited in public parks and rivers. If the Styrofoam liners used in floating devices or dock supports are encased in a water-based acrylic or latex covering, or if they are contained inside a boat, they are exempt from the regulation.
- Tobacco-free zones should be established in all play areas and sporting grounds.
- In all municipal parks and on all public property, smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes and other devices that produce inhaled vapor are prohibited.
- At no point should the animals be released from their physical confinement.
- In the San Marcos River, there should be a requirement that container lids be fastened.
- In order to better manage the local animal population, the use of spear guns and gigs in the San Marcos River should be regulated.
- Even in the natural regions, park regulations must be followed.
- The river and parks have minimum penalties of $250.00 for littering in such areas.