Originally Posted by
3Cforme
It's not airport rules - its relevant state law governing alcohol service and consumption. Don't look for any restaurant or bar in Michigan to let you take a drink 'off property'.
I realize that state and local open container laws also have some bearing on this. AFAIK, Ohare doesn't allow it, but MDW does, and they are in the same state, not sure if they are both in the Chicago city limits or not.
I know that various jurisdictions have exemptions to the open container laws. My local college suspends them on football game days to allow tailgate parties, during certain special events you can carry a drink around downtown, which would normally be forbidden.
It wouldn't surprise me greatly to find that somewhere in the US, there are totally dry airports with commercial service.