Boozy riders on the commuter railroads are about to get soaked.
In the oddest MTA fare hike yet, the LIRR and Metro-North will increase the price of beer, wine, and liquor by 25 cents starting January 2011.
Long Island Rail Road riders see the increase on imported and domestic beers.
Passengers heading upstate on Metro-North, though, will feel the sting on everything from top shelf liquor to soda.
The suds hike will be voted on at next week’s MTA meetings, “in order to generate additional revenue, while at the same time remaining competitive with private vendors,” the agency said.
Metro-North is expected to reap an additional $150,000 from the increases — it makes $1.5 million in profit on $6.4 million in alcohol sales each year.
The LIRR should bring in another $150,000 from the extra quarter charge. That railroad makes $500,000 profit on $2.4 million in yearly booze sales.
The 25-cent hike exceeds the 1.4 percent consumer price index growth since the last time the alcohol’s cost was increased.
Metro-North’s increase is about 3.8 percent while the LIRR’s is 4.2 percent. Both railroads last increased alcohol prices in July 2009.