Technically it's against the rules in ... the NYC metro
This is incorrect. Google something like "can i eat on the nyc subway?" and you will find many articles telling you what is and is not allowed on the NYC subway. Eating and drinking is allowed. A NYTimes article from 2017[1] says the main reason to allow eating & drinking on the subway is for children who ride the metro to school. Many eat their breakfast on the train. There is a real public health concern that, if eating on the NYC subway was banned, many children would not eat breakfast before school.
Nice follow-up. During my short research, I was surprised to see they make a specific carve-out for drinks from an open container! I guess it makes sense, as the train might stop on short notice. Also, if you really think about it, it is weird to travel on a train drinking something from an open container(!). It would normally have a lid/cover.
> The possession of cans, bottles or flasks or other vessels containing an alcoholic beverage could potentially result in a violation of open container laws.
> To be “open”, in most cases, means that some of the contents have been removed, the seal is broken, the cap is off or the alcohol is otherwise readily accessible.
Even the wording above makes it sound as if interpretations can vary, though.
Maybe the problem with many things in the US is that institutions that should not be dealing with certain issues are forced to deal with them by various interests.
The MTA should not be in the business of ensuring schoolchildren are fed. Nor should they be in the business of being adhoc homeless shelters.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/nyregion/mta-reconsiderin...