Can You Drink on the Beaches of Costa Rica in Public?

...Orrrrrr should I be pouring vodka inconspicuously into a soda bottle like the classy champion I am?

What an excellent question. I love answering academic inquiries. (Kidding. This was pretty much my ONLY question when I first got to Costa Rica.)

So, surprise! It IS legal, and you can drink all the booze in public that you want, Las Vegas style. You should absolutely fill a cooler full of beer and bring it to the beach, or even if you want to stroll down a sidewalk with a wine cooler in hand—all is good. (Actually, anytime I'm at home in the United States, it's now so weird to me when you can't have a cocktail on the beach!) There are only a couple of exceptions to the rule:

Obviously you can't drink and drive. Do not do that.
Most national parks, like the Manual Antonio National Park, for example, will not allow you to bring booze inside. Which is admittedly weird. I don't know why you can drink on the public beaches but not inside the park. Alas, be prepared: they will check your bags before you go in.

Other than that, you can pop in and out of little markets and only buy a single beer, if you want. (You are allowed to take a can out from a six pack and buy it individually. Isn't that a hoot?) My only recommendation is to make sure you buy a few: you'll make friends quickly, and it's likely they'll want one, too. ;)