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A transit authority committee reversed track on a move to ban alcohol on commuter trains after receiving a stack of petitions that were signed by thousands of riders who objected. Facing overwhelming opposition from their customers, the LIRR and Metro-North will continue to allow them to drink. The New York Times describes the opposition to the proposed booze ban as being a modern democratic uniter, linking different socio-economic groups in a common cocktail cause. We almost wonder if Sen. Clinton or Rudy Giuliani will eventually outfit their campaign buses with wetbars and kegs to capitalize on the issue. There are actually only bar cars on the Metro-North line that travels from Grand Central Terminal to New Haven. Other Metro-North passengers can buy drinks from carts located on the platform and the LIRR has mobile carts that are wheeled onto trains.
WNBC highlights another aspect of The Times' story morning. It points out that there were almost 1,000 passengers on Metro-North and LIRR trains that were so drunk they needed medical attention and close to 300 were ticketed for being drunk and causing disturbances. The ban on alcohol sales was first proposed last December by a board member from Long Island who was concerned that drinking-and-riding passengers posed a threat as they drove home after leaving their trains. The Times reported that police data did not support those concerns, however, and the committee decided to recommend continuing alcohol sales.
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what a retarded statistic (almost 1,000 people on MN and LIRR last year were so drunk they needed medical attention). i'm sure that was because they were all doing shots on the train....let's see how many of that 1,000 were sick between 11pm and 2am. my guess is 999
When will they ever learn, trains and alcohol don't mix. I guess the profits derived from the sales offset the lawsuits. It's a nuisance and a danger that other riders and drivers should not be exposed to.
Hey Ace, I suppose you didn't notice the part in this entire debate and the article above that said that "police data [does] not support" allegations that drinking on the train has posed a danger to people.
If I'm not mistaken, the real reason this legislation was originally proposed was because of stupid kids that got drunk and injured will riding the LIRR. And the incidents didn't happen during the afternoon rush, rather late at night, as fishtale states.
Ace: Trains and alcohol do mix if you're not the conductor.
If people stopped suing over stupid shit and we all took a little personal responsibility for our actions the world would really be a better place. Get drunk, too busy with cell phone/blackberry to pay attention, take train, fall between cars and or the widely advertised gap in the tracks.....your own damn fault. Let them drink and suffer the consequences. It is called survival of the fittest after all. Although all those drunk kids do get on my last nerve, but we all were young & stupid once too.
And you believe the police data? I have a bridge I would like to sell you. Don't be foolish. I hope you are never subjected to a 400 pound drunk falling on you (Shea), or getting behind the wheel and being hit head-on by a car driven by a drunk, who became that way on the train. Shame on the LIRR. Case closed!
It's a great victory over an increasingly sanitized, controlled world.
I agree with darwin that people need to take reponsibility for their actions. Alcohol has been a part of society for hundreds of years, and when treated with respect is not a terrible thing. Teenagers have been teenagers for hundreds of years.
What the bigger concern is to me, is when did America lose it's balls and want to wrap everything we do, see and say in cotton wool.
Prohibition and McCarthyism are over. We're grown ups, let's act like it.
Case closed indeed.
it' a great victory against the increasingly sanitized and controlled existence we are forced to live in.
I agree with darwin the people need to take some responsibility for their actions. Alcohol has been a part of society for hundreds of years, and when treated with respect is no terrible thing. Teenagers have been teenagers for hundreds of years, and always will be. But they are not the majority. Rail staff need to also take reponsibility and build some respect.
The bigger concern to me is why exactly did America lose it's balls entirely and decide to wrap everything we do, see and say in cotton wool?
Prohibition and McCarthyism are over.
We're grown-ups. Let's act like it.