NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The recent can ban in New Braunfels has been a controversial issue for months, but amidst the disagreement over using disposable containers on the rivers comes a possible answer. It's a new reusable container that the city is looking at closely. But the bottom line is, will anyone get a ticket for using one while tubing?
Well, Alfred Leos says he just wanted to solve a problem. Some sort of drink container that followed New Braunfels can ban ordinance. A plastic container that keeps your favorite drink fresh for hours and will actually float full or empty is what he came up with.
To appeal to a larger group of river floaters he says the outside will actually say "Beverage On The Go." And the beer barrel on the outside will also go away.
At first he says the city was positive about it.
But later he says, "They came back and gave me a no response, with really nothing that I could work with to try to change the product."
Right now he has major retailers with orders ready to go if he gets the city's okay.
But what do people who live here think of it?
Rick Arnold was okay with it.
"To me it seems like a good idea, if you have something that's reusable," said Arnold.
Kristin Tiede would rather drink out of the original container, but told us, "If I had a to choose between not drinking at all and buying this, then I would buy this."
Despite the fact the container won't sink and end up on the river bottom, the New Braunfels Police Department says it isn't sure it's really reusable. The fact it is inexpensive at only five dollars and the prototype container has a "best if used by" label make it look like a throwaway.
Police spokesman Captain Michael Penshorn told us, "[that's] exactly what the ordinance specifically looks at -- whether the container is originally designed to be disposable or non-disposable."
A new version has gotten a verbal okay from the city. Leos hopes are for something in writing before going ahead.
