New York Airports Now Banned From Charging $28 For A Beer

While the cost of living continues to spike in the US, at least one new ruling has meant that airports in New York will no longer be allowed to charge $28 for one beer. 

This issue was raised after a viral tweet shared last summer caused outrage online, showing a series of alarmingly high beer prices being charged at LaGuardia airport.

The highest on the list was a pint of the Sam Adams Summer Ale Draught, costing an eye-watering $27.85. 

Cooper Lund, who shared the snap, wrote: “Lol at all of this, including the additional 10% ‘COVID Recovery Fee’ that doesn’t go to workers.”

The Brooklyn-based traveller told The City at the time that he was set to board a flight to visit family in Minnesota when he decided to enjoy a quick drink at the OTG-owned Biergarten. “It’s just Sam Adams Summer Ale – that’s insane!” he said.

In response to his original tweet, one person wrote: “The price for drinks and food at the airport is ridiculously high!!! Highway robbery.”

“Here's a business that needs to be put out of business,” quipped another, while a third said: “This is outrageous! A pint of good brew is around $6.00 a pop...I can see paying close to double that in any airport; but paying over $28 is a damned crime!”

Following the backlash, the Port Authority Office of the Inspector General (OIG) launched an audit into the drinks prices and has since implemented a new policy to cap beers in NYC airports at no more than a 10% concession on top of local ‘street prices’. 

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole said in a press statement: "All airport customers should rightly expect that policies which limit the pricing of food and beverages at concessions will be followed and enforced.

"Nobody should have to fork over such an exorbitant amount for a beer. The Aviation Department's new compliance and enforcement measures announced today make it crystal clear that all prices at concessions will be routinely monitored to ensure they are aligned with the regional marketplace. 

“And all airport customers and concessionaires should expect tough pro-active enforcement going forward now that these revised standards are in place."

OTG, which runs restaurants and shops at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports, previously explained that the high costs seen in Cooper’s tweet were the result of an error. 

In response to his post, they wrote: “Yikes. GOOD CATCH! That Sam Summer **price is incorrect** and has been updated. + note all other listed prices are for 23oz pours.

“@cooperlund - we very much appreciate you spotting. DM us next time you're passing through,” adding that the beers would be on them. 

An OTG spokesperson also informed The City at the time that the prices were ‘incorrectly posted’ and ‘quickly corrected’, adding: “Because of these posted-pricing hiccups, our in-house menu teams have been diligently working to ensure pricing across all restaurants are, in fact, rendering correctly.”

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