PORTLAND, Maine — Alcohol sales on the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority’s Downeasters will be allowed to continue in New Hampshire while the officials work out a “creative solution” to address a state liquor law, the Associated Press reports.
That represents a reversal of a plan by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to enforce a longstanding state law prohibiting the serving of alcoholic beverages unless the liquor was purchased in the state, as had been reported by the Portland Press-Herald.
The train’s liquor license is held by Portland-based NexDine, the outsourced food service company the rail authority uses to staff and supply the Downeaster’s cafe cars instead of contracting directly with Amtrak for that service. The AP report indicates the company had acknowledged it was inadvertently in violation of the New Hampshire law, but that the liquor commission was working on a solution that would set the stage for a “unique partnership between New Hampshire and Maine.”
Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA’s executive director, said she was “very grateful” to learn the liquor sales need not be suspended during the 35-mile New Hampshire portion of the train’s trip. Downeasters make stops at Dover, Durham, and Exeter in the state and spend about 45 minutes traversing New Hampshire on a 3-hour, 20-minute run from Boston’s North Station to Brunswick, Maine.
The liquor issue was a throwback to an earlier era of passenger railroading. Even into Amtrak’s history, railroads had to abide by prevailing state liquor laws. For instance, law enforcement officials arrested and jailed a Texas Chief lounge car attendant for “operating an open saloon in violation of Oklahoma law” in 1972. Kansas banned all sales of alcohol into the 1970s and Sunday sales after that. Rather than buy liquor licenses or deal with varying laws on a route zigzagging between six states from Kansas City, Mo., to New Orleans, Kansas City Southern only offered “Bar service in Missouri and Louisiana” on its Southern Belle.
The current dust-up is about licensing and revenue, yet it is valid to point out that New Hampshire has never contributed funding to the Downeaster’s operating support even though its residents regularly ride the trains.
The Massachusetts rail portion of the trip will be shortened through March 12, and from April 22 to May 7, when chartered buses will cover the Boston-Haverhill, Mass., segment while MBTA undertakes signal upgrades. During the work windows, Downeaster round-trip fares are capped at $20 on tickets bought at least three days in advance by selecting “adult” and using promo code V520. Other price reduction promotions can be found on the Downeaster website’s “Deals & Discounts” page.
While buses are substituting, passengers heading north won’t have much time to buy an alcoholic beverage after departing Haverhill before the train immediately crosses into New Hampshire.
— Updated at 2:25 p.m. CST with report that liquor sales will be allowed to continue.
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