Dupage Policy Journal

It is no longer prohibited to consume alcohol on trains, per a new bill sponsored by state Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law on April 2.

The measure overturned a law from 1911 that had not been enforced since Prohibition ended in 1933

“For years now, many trains have included alcoholic beverages on their menus,” Ellman wrote in an April 5 Facebook post. “Now they won’t technically be breaking a law that was put in place during Prohibition.”

House Bill 3878 of the 101st General Assembly repeals the Railroad Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1911, which prohibits drinking alcohol on trains and around train stations, and gives conductors the ability to arrest violators and charge them with a Class C misdemeanor, a press release from Ellman’s office explains.

HB 3878 garnered both the approval of the Illinois House and Senate.

WROK News Talk 1440 reported that the Prairie State consumes approximately 253 million gallons of beer annually per capita, good enough for sixth in the nation.

Ellman encourages people to use safe transportation, such as Metra, as an alternative to driving under the influence.