Every place I've lived in the states has had an open container law for open containers of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a car. If you brought a bottle of alcohol to someone else's party and wanted to return home with the unfinished portion you always had to store it in the trunk. If you ran into a police offficer and it was inside the passenger area it would get poured out immediately.

One place was recently talking about a law to allow people to bring home half empty bottles of wine from restaurants. The theory was that you pay a lot for a good bottle and don't want to leave impaired but feel that you paid good money and want to finish the bottle. The idea was that you didn't have to finish the bottle there. The staff would cork it, then put it into a bag and then personally take it to your car and put it in your trunk for you. I'm not sure that it passed but it was a good idea.

Also, when I lived in NC there were still a few dry counties and towns but they had strange "bring your own" laws at some restaurants. If you wanted a scotch and water on the rocks you would bring in your own scotch and then they would sell you a small glass of ice and water for about $3. Then you had to take your little bag from under the table and pour your own drink. Not sure if they still do it but it was kind of funny.

There are also still some places that have the "brown bag" rules in public area. As long as people can't see what you are drinking out of the bag it's OK. More strange restrictions.