Booze is back on board the Staten Island Ferry
Photo by Jesse R on Pexels
After a seven-year sober spell, Staten Island Ferry riders can once again booze on board. Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that beer, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails will be sold on the ferry for the first time since 2019, alongside expanded snack options like pretzels and popcorn. The offerings debuted on the MV SSG Michael H. Ollis and are slated to roll out to the Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day ferries in the coming weeks.
Alcohol sales were halted in 2019 after a vendor contract lapsed and were further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which many feared would end the tradition for good, as reported by the New York Times.
In December 2024, DOT resumed onboard food service with coffee and snacks. The expanded menu is intended to further enhance the passenger experience, giving riders a way to unwind during their trip.
“Whether you’re a Staten Islander commuting home after a long work day or a visitor taking in the harbor views, the Staten Island Ferry is not just a critical piece of city infrastructure, it is an experience,” Jeanny Pak, interim president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), said.
The Staten Island Ferry is the largest municipal ferry service in the United States, carrying more than 16 million riders annually and roughly 45,000 on an average weekday. The city’s NYC Ferry already serves alcohol on board.
Unlike most transit options, the Staten Island Ferry remains one of the few in New York without an admission fee, offering free rides to all passengers. Heavily subsidized by the city, the ferry is not designed to generate revenue.
The city signed a 10-year lease agreement with the ferry’s new vendor, a Dunkin’ franchise, which is paying the city $27,000 per month to operate the concessions, according to the Times.
In a statement, Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said the return of alcohol sales will help increase ridership and energize the service.
“Countless Staten Island residents and visitors utilize the ferry daily, and the return of on-board alcoholic beverage sales is a great initiative to get riders excited about utilizing this transportation service, helping increase ridership and generating revenue for a Staten Island staple,” said Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.
“Thank you to all who played a role in the return of this long-awaited service. I’m looking forward to enjoying a cold beer to partake in a time-honored tradition.”
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