Strict Beverage Ban Enforced for SantaCon 2024

In anticipation of SantaCon 2024, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New Jersey Transit are enforcing strict alcohol bans on their services to maintain safety and order. The MTA has prohibited alcohol consumption on all Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad trains and stations from 4 a.m. Saturday, December 14, to noon Sunday, December 15. This measure is aimed at curbing disorderly behavior during the annual event, which involves festive bar crawls across New York City. MTA Police will be present at major hubs like Penn Station and Grand Central to enforce the ban, confiscating alcohol and issuing summonses. NJ Transit has extended the ban to all beverages during the same period, further emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy on open containers. SantaCon, known for its lively and sometimes rowdy crowds, continues to be a significant event in New York, despite criticisms over past behavior.