March 13, 2007
Outcry Over MTA's St. Patty's Booze Ban
The MTA announcement that alcohol would be banned from LIRR and Metro-North trains on St. Patrick's Day has caused quite a stir. The NY Sun has angry comments from barkeeps and even a State Senator. Irish State Senator Marty Golden said, "It definitely looks like stereotyping, and that's what the MTA should be faulted for. Some people do get out of control, but to focus on that day, and on certain segments of the population like that, is totally wrongheaded." Is that like Fifth Avenue apartment buildings putting up barriers during the Puerto Rican Day Parade?
The MTA also bans alcohol on New Year's, too, but another person, Don Rogers, the VP of NYPD Irish fraternal organization Emerald Society, said, "It's not fair that on other holidays they don't ban alcohol if they do it on St. Patrick's Day." Maybe the MTA has lots of rider data that shows many St. Patrick's Day attendees take the LIRR or Metro-North! But you tell us what you think:
We have a sense this is paving the way for an alcohol ban on the trains. And it turns out that people caught with alcohol will be fined $50.
Photograph of the line outside McSorley's last St. Patrick's Day at 8:30AM by hwgagain on Flickr
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In my college days I used to love having a Scotch and soda on the train back to Bronxville, but with St. Patrick's Day on a Saturday, how can you blame them?
Everyone (and not just Irish) uses St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to drink excessively.
I for one will be staying away from the bars, just like I stay away from Fifth Avenue during the ________ Day Parade or away from the Village during the Gay Pride Parade or anywhere in Manhattan on New Year's Eve!
Just one more way New York is losing its freedom, one ban at a time.
This ban on alcohol may make people drive instead of take the train. Do you realy want more drunk drivers?
If your need for alcohol is so pressing that the hour long trip on the MTA is cramping your style, you need an AA meeting, not a St. Patty's party.
Seriously.
Sure... it's freeedom to puke in public.
If you're old enough to drink, you should be old enough to understand why they're inforcing the ban.
This ban on alcohol may make people drive instead of take the train. Do you realy want more drunk drivers?
Your logic is terrible.
Why is it that whenever the short comings of a group of people are pointed out by anyone else, the group immediately cries racism?
How about not acting so ridiculously stereotypical at your parade/debauchery fests?
I’m looking at you Puerto Ricans and Irish.
"I’m looking at you Puerto Ricans and Irish"
Because God knows no one other than the Irish get drunk in St. Patrick's Day.
The comment by the Emerald Society VP complaining that the St. Pat's Day Parade is unfairly being discriminated against in comparison to the Gay Pride Parade is so ironic it makes me wonder if he was joking.
I propose that both parades be policed to the same extent whenever the number of non-Irish partygoers claiming to be Irish-for-a-day on 3/17 is matched by the number of straight people donning rainbow-wear and proclaiming "They're here, they're queer, and we should we should get used to it" whenever the Gay Pride Celebration comes around.
The stereotype that all the Irishlike to do is drink and fight gets me so mad I want to have a couple of shots and then punch someone.
Post # 7: Yeah, the only people I see acting stupid on those days are the Puerto Ricans and Irish. Asshole.
Being Irish I get so angry at the stereotype of us all bein' a bunch of drunk brawlers that it makes me want to have a few shots and then go out and punch someone.
Post # 7 is a racist asshole.
The ban isn't new. It's been in effect at least for the last few years. Why are they just freaking out about it now?
Also, as a regular LIRR passenger (with a reverse commute, so I get the evening train-drinkers going into the city to party), I'm fine with trying to prevent the inevitable drunken altercation. Plus there are already enough empties and beer spilled all over the train car floors as it is without a holiday traditionally known for drinking adding to the problem.
Get off my ass you wee bitty fuck
If I pull out the Claymore you're shit outta luck
Who's that girl, that pretty young thing
After I fuck her she'll get up and sing
Aye Aye Aye -- sharpen your boot, and bludgeon your eye
Aye Aye Aye -- the Blarney Stone brings a tear to me eye
Down to the pub for a two shilling ale
The bread on the counter is going stale
If I don't get some fresh bread soon
Gonna punch you in your face and bark at the moon
Aye Aye Aye -- sharpen your boot, and bludgeon your eye
Aye Aye Aye -- the Blarney Stone brings a tear to me eye
Ain't got no girl 'cuz I haven't the time
Got too many other things on me mind
Patty was nice she was pale and cute
But I threw her away like an old piece of fruit
Aye Aye Aye -- sharpen your boot, and bludgeon your eye
Aye Aye Aye -- the Blarney Stone brings a tear to me eye
Got ooze in my pores my feet are all wet
Got mold in my ears but I ain't dead yet
Got stones in me bladder got a crack in me head
When Patty starts cryin' this is what I said
Aye Aye Aye -- sharpen your boot, and bludgeon your eye
Aye Aye Aye -- the Blarney Stone brings a tear to me eye
they should ban the juice all the time, as far as those motherwhoringirishniggers, fuck em all!
i think they should ban people from coming in from long island and connecticut. oh, and definitely new jersey. i'm all for the b & t ban!
I've lived and worked in Manhattan all my life and that's the first time I say a photo of people waiting on line at 8:30 in the morning on St. Patrick's day drink at a Bar.
Any other revelations I should know? I'm usually working on St. Patrick's day and head home after work.
I love how the civil rights activists start whining about "lost rights". Whatever happened to "It takes a village"? Of does that mean "the village" has to pay for the overtime it takes to cleanup the trains and the "villagers" have to smell your vomit?
Being around drunk people on trains is terrible. As far as I'm concerned a train is a public place and therefore, since drinking on the street is already illegal, I don't see why it isn't always banned.
Either way, this should make bar owners in NY very happy, since people won't be able to bring in their own booze/pregame on the train they will now be forced to pay exorbitant drink prices at bars.
Regarding the headline:
"Outcry Over MTA's St. Patty's Booze Ban"
If you are going to use the familiar tense when referring to the saint, instead of the formal Patrick, it would be Paddy, not Patty.
Patty is a girl's name.
cheers.
[14] ....?
People will just pre-party before getting on the train..you can't stop people from drinking.
Slainte
The conductors are not going to enforce it!
Maybe if the Green Monkeys knew how to act . Then this step taken by the MTA wouldn't be necessary ! I remember what happened last year on the [7] train after the parade . These dummies started by my count [7] fights on the train between Vernon, & 33rd. st .