SantaCon Warning For NJ And NYC: Mass Transit Won't Allow Beverages

NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK — If you bring your eggnog on mass transit in New York or New Jersey during the next two weekends, you may be in trouble.

NJ Transit said Friday that it's prohibiting all beverages on its buses and trains for the next two Saturdays, whether alcoholic or not, open or closed.

The prohibition is meant to coincide with the planned "SantaCon" bar crawls in New York City and then in Hoboken, respectively.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority made an announcement this year that's slightly different. They're prohibiting consumption of alcoholic beverages on their vehicles for part of this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11.

The MTA said that effective 4 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, through noon on Sunday, Dec. 11, they will "ban the consumption of alcohol on Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road trains during SantaCon." Drinking is also prohibited on the platforms.

MTA police will have an increased presence at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal to enforce the restriction, they said. Police will confiscate alcoholic beverages and issue summonses, and may even remove people from trains.

NJ Transit's message said, "NJ TRANSIT is prohibiting all beverages on its trains, light rail vehicles and buses on Saturday, December 10th to coincide with the SantaCon event in New York City, and on Saturday, December 17th to coincide with the SantaCon event in Hoboken."

They is typically spillover from one city to the other during the events.

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Organizers for the planned Dec. 17 Hoboken Santacon have posted about the event on at least three different websites, including a list of more than eight participating bars on an NJ Monthly site and a declaration that the event starts as early as 10 a.m. on another.

'And A Partridge In A Pear Tree'

Each year, the holiday bar crawls arouse the ire of residents in both Manhattan and Hoboken, cities that face each other across the Hudson River. However, many observers — including NBC News — found it "hilarious" for several years when then-Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante famously live-Tweeted Santacon events.

"HOBOKEN SANTACON STATS," Ferrante wrote, tongue in cheek, in December 2018, "14 Arrested, 46 Tickets Issued, 33 Ordinance Violations, 4 Cops Injured, Brawl at a Burger Joint — and a Partridge in a Pear Tree."

But the Hoboken police have ramped up penalties for violations during bar crawls, and last year, the city said participants had to be vaccinated.

NJ Transit didn't display much humor in its messages on Friday.

"No beverages of any kind, in any type of container, open or closed, will be permitted on board trains, buses or light rail vehicles during this time," they said. "This policy will be strictly enforced."

They added that beverages are never allowed on the buses.

"If you see something suspicious or unusual, take note of it," they said. "We encourage you to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, packages or vehicles, with as many details as possible. Text Your message to NJTPD (65873) or CALL 1-888-TIPS-NJT (1-888-847-7658)."