NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The MTA will again ban alcohol on LIRR and Metro-North trains during SantaCon as revelers dressed as Santa, many sloshed to the gills, descend on NYC for the yearly bar crawl.
The booze ban will be in effect from 4 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, to 12 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10.
Alcohol consumption will be prohibited on all LIRR and Metro-North trains and platforms during that time, officials said. Alcohol consumption is already prohibited on the subway and buses.
MTA Police will have an increased presence at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal to help enforce the weekend alcohol restriction.
The MTA warned police will confiscate alcoholic beverages and issue summonses. Violators may also be removed from trains or stations by officers, officials said.
"Ensuring everyone has access to safe and orderly travel is a top priority," MTA Police Chief John Mueller said in a statement. "The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, and we want everyone to get to their destination smoothly and on time while enjoying the festivities."
NJ Transit normally implements a similar ban on its trains during the SantaCons in both New York and Hoboken.
While SantaCon is a charity drive that teams up with nonprofits for causes like ending hunger, the event has nevertheless made headlines over the years for the wild antics of some participants. It has a long list of rules on its website, including to respect cops, bar staff and the city, and to not break the law.
"Santa doesn’t piss on the streets, start fights, block streets, climb on cars, or deface property," reads one of the rules on a "Santa Code" list.