Buried in the MTA’s board materials this month is some news bound to make commuters who like to unwind with a beer sigh in exasperation. To cover higher labor and supplier costs within the alcohol industry, the MTA is raising beer and wine prices for Metro-North and LIRR commuters, and since the price bump is higher than the consumer price index, the move requires Board approval. Overall, the increase is just a quarter across the board. On the LIRR, for instance, 25-ounce Fosters cans will increase from $4.50 to $4.75 while imported beer will rise to $3.50 and domestic beer to $2.50. You can check out the full list of increases right here.
Of course, as Pete Donohue reports, some people are unhappy with the price hikes, but most commuters seem resigned to the move. “I’m not happy about it but will still pay it because I love being able to get a glass before getting on the train,” Maggie McCabe, a regular Metro-North wine-drinker, said. Metro-North and the LIRR should realize an additional $250,000 in revenue after the higher prices go into effect.
4 comments
Considering how much it would cost to have the same at a bar, those prices seem relatively low. And the bar doesn’t go anywhere!
Agreed. And still WAAAAAY cheaper than the Amtrak bar car.
Here’s a comparison that I just did between the Metro-North’s new price for beer and the market price for the same product at a New York City bar.
Would it be fair to say that MN could be charging more for the beer that they sell on their NH Line trains?
e.g.
Fosters – 25 oz.
New Metro-North price – $4.75
Market price (in N.Y.C.) – $6.87 (using BeerMenus.com/fosters)
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Amstel Lite – 12 oz. (Imported beer)
New Metro-North price – $3.50
Market price (in N.Y.C.) – $5.55 (using BeerMenus.com/amstel-lite)
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Budweiser – 12 oz. (Domestic beer)
New Metro-North price – $2.50
Market price (N.Y.C.) – $4.66 (using BeerMenus.com/miller-lite)
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Amtrak I think charges $4.50 for a domestic beer and $5.50 for an imported beer.
Why the hell are they selling booze on a commuter train? In one direction it means people will be working drunk, and in the other direction it means people will be driving from the park and ride drunk.