Sacramento transit agency has second thoughts about advertising alcohol on buses, trains

Sacramento Regional Transit officials have backed off a plan to allow alcohol advertising on the sides of buses and light-rail trains, at least momentarily.

Agency staff had proposed a policy change last week to allow the financially struggling agency to increase revenues by accepting beer and wine ads. Agency officials said a review of transit agencies elsewhere shows that others advertise alcohol.

But several RT board members this week balked at the idea, expressing concerns “about promoting alcohol use due to the potential negative health impacts associated with alcohol consumption,” RT spokeswoman Susan Bitar said in an email to The Bee.

Board chair Jay Schenirer formed a committee made up of three board members and three staff members to discuss the issue in more depth and bring recommendations back to the full board on Dec. 12.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Sacramento transit agency has second thoughts about advertising alcohol on buses, trains."