MTA, NJ Transit Ban Booze For SantaCon 2017

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The Metropolitan Transit Authority and New Jersey Transit will reprise their roles as Scrooge and institute its annual 24-hour alcohol ban during SantaCon, the transit agencies announced Wednesday.

All booze will be banned from Long Island Rail Road and Metro North Railroad trains and stations starting Saturday at noon, the MTA announced. The ban is being enacted to "maintain orderly travel and safe station and terminal operations," according to an MTA press release.

New Jersey Transit is taking their ban a step further by prohibiting all liquid beverages on its trains, buses and light rail vehicles, the agency said on social media.

Any Santas caught pre-gaming will be kicked off their train and possibly fined or even arrested, the MTA said Wednesday. The MTA will be stationing extra police officers on trains as well as in highly-trafficked stations such as Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal.

Long Island Rail Road and Metro North Railroad passengers can resume drinking on Sunday at noon — just in time for the workweek. NJ Transit will allow beverages back on its vehicles starting in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Thousands of drunk Santa Clause impersonators will likely be riding the commuter rails this Saturday in order to revel through the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

This year's holiday-themed bar crawl will begin at the James A. Farley Post Office in Midtown, SantaCon organizers told Patch exclusively. The Santas plan to assemble at the post office around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, a SantaCon organizer told Patch. At 10:45 a.m. the Santas will take a large group photo, as in past years, and then head out on a Manhattan bar crawl.

The exact route and participating businesses will be announced closer to Dec. 9, SantaCon organizers told Patch. Attendees can check the SantaCon website or follow its official Twitter account for updates.

The James A. Farley Post Office is located on Eighth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th streets. It has not yet been approved by the NYPD as the SantaCon start point, organizers said, but it's their top choice.

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