Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Class War With Drinking Outside
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 9, 2003
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 9, 2003
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Daily News "exposes" that people bring alcoholic beverages to the public places, like Central Park or the beach, even though it's not permitted. But, in Central Park, especially at Summerstage concerts, the enforcement seems minimal, whereas if you're having a fundraiser for September 11 memorials in Far Rockaway, attended by working class cops, fire fighters, and their families, you're more likely to get busted. The Daily News wonders if it's a class difference, with their "Wine's cool, Beer's a Fine" headline but maybe the Queens cops wanted to fill their quotas of summonses for the month in one fell swoop. And there's more ground to cover at a concert. But Gothamist does note how the Daily News interviews an upwardly mobile, most likely gay couple as the quintessential New Yorkers who frequent Summerstage or concerts in the parks, wine in picnic basket and all.
The Parks Department rule regarding alcohol - Section 1-05, subsection F: "Except where specifically permitted by the Commissioner, no person shall consume any alcoholic beverage in any park, playground, beach, swimming pool or other park property or facility, nor shall any person possess any alcoholic beverage with intent to consume or facilitate consumption by others."
When Gothamist has gone to Summerstage with wine, we've managed to smuggle it in, although those few moments with security checking our bags, we've damned ourselves for not pouring wine into a water bottle, though.
If you're going to the park, get a picnic to go from E.A.T.
Tagged
alcohol
beer
But Gothamist
central park
daily news
far rockaway
fire
gay
gothamist
holiday
new yorkers
news
News: NYC
ny daily news
parks
parks department
people
queens
september 11
the daily news
When Gothamist
wine
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .