Can you drink alcohol on the New York subway?

As many late night revelers have learned the hard way, despite being the “city that never sleeps,” drinking on the subway and buses is still illegal in New York City. (Save that nonsense for the Long Island Railroad!) But starting in 2018, even alcohol advertisements are getting the boot from public transit.



Consuming alcohol on the New York City subway is strictly prohibited under the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Rules of Conduct. Specifically, Section 1050.7 states that no person shall drink any alcoholic beverage or possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage in any facility or conveyance within the transit system. In 2026, the fine for drinking alcohol on the subway remains $50, and Transit Bureau officers frequently issue summonses for this violation. While the MTA has recently updated its policies to allow alcohol advertising in digital formats and on certain "train wraps" (like the Times Square shuttle), this does not change the law regarding consumption. Furthermore, being "impaired" by alcohol to the point of causing a disturbance is also a punishable offense with a similar fine. While you may see people discreetly carrying closed bottles in shopping bags, once a container is opened, you are in violation of the law. This rule is enforced to maintain safety, cleanliness, and a comfortable environment for the millions of daily commuters in the city that never sleeps.

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No, alcohol is prohibited in all parks.

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First off, it's never a good idea to go through Central Park at night. While Central Park is an idyllic tourist attraction during the day, it is technically supposed to be closed late at night and in the early hours of the morning. The vast majority of cases of crime and violence in the park occur at night.

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