Countries where you can legally drink an alcoholic beverage in public

It is no secret that America is not exactly land of the free when it comes to liquor laws.

In addition to having the world's highest drinking age (a contentious honor we share with 12 other countries), the United States also has very strict laws on public drinking. Each state is allowed to make its own rules, but the list remains short of cities that actually take advantage of this freedom.

There are 11 American cities that condone open containers, and each comes with its own set of rules, like you must use a plastic cup in New Orleans or keep it to Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.

If the idea of strolling by the river with a brew in hand or pouring an icy glass of wine in the park appeals to you, you should consider many parts of Europe and Asia for your next vacation.

Germany and Belgium celebrate their centuries-old beer brewing histories by allowing locals and visitors to sip on tangy ales throughout the country.

Meanwhile, in Czech Republic and Italy, countries that do not have sweeping open container laws, certain cities have made their own laws to stop disruptive partiers.

And if you hop over to Asia, you might think public drinking is totally acceptable thanks to the lax laws in China and Laos, but watch out for new regulations Singapore put into place last year.

This is not an exhaustive list and local rules change frequently, so always double check before cracking open a cold one in public when on vacation.

By: Morgan Giordano, AOL.com