by puckhead
I often wonder why the LIRR is so casual about alcohol use on the trains. for starters, isnt drinking in public ( on the street ) a violation of the law? isnt the train a public space? at least on the street, you can walk away , on the train you are trapped. for a company that is scared to death of liability and lawsuits, they themselves sell alcohol to people getting on their own trains. mom doesnt pick hubby up at the station anymore, they get in their cars and drive off. what if one of those people kills or injures somebody ? never mind all the constant problems drunks cause on the trains, and that the other passengers that have to suffer with their nonsense. from what i understand, the RR doesnt even make all that much money from the alcohol sales. i understand people will still get on the trains drunk, bring their own booze, and enforcement would be an issue, but you could say that for most lower level laws that are enforced anyway. a ban would be a good start, and the right thing to do. i work for the LIRR, and quite frankly, i am embarrassed to be an employee when i see the drunks on the trains, and know its allowed. its not a limited problem, its pretty rampant, and nobody should have to put up with it as a condition of riding the train. i'm curious about the official position, the history, and if a ban has ever been considered. what goes on in the offices and minds of the managers who decide on this subject?