BY COLIN MIXSON
Talk about a cold comfort!
A Clinton Hill man registered
his beer as an emotional
support animal last
month, hoping the certifi cation
will allow him to access
public transit in possession
of his favorite beverage.
“I travel from upstate to
Brooklyn a lot, and on the
bus they say its a federal
crime to smoke or have an
alcoholic beverage unless by
prior written consent, and I
always wondered where you
get that consent,” said Floyd
Hayes.
“Not that I’m an alcoholic,”
he added.
As fi rst reported by Ale
Street News, Hayes registered
his beer as an emotional
support dog with USA Service
Dog Registration, which
promptly emailed him a registration
code, “1085780890,”
that can be plugged into the
Nevada-based business’s
website to reveal additional
information about him and
his faithful brew.
According to the site,
Hayes’ support dog, which is
listed as “beer,” does not require
COURIER L 30 IFE, JANUARY 24-30, 2020
any additional training
and helps the Clinton Hill
resident to manage his social
anxiety disorder.
“I don’t mean it in a heady
mental health manner,” he
said. “More if you go to a
party, and want to break the
ice.”
The site doesn’t list the
type of beer, but Hayes said
he enjoys sessional IPAs and
likes to drink local, preferring
Brooklyn breweries
such as Six Point and Coney
Island Brewery, although the
latter was purchased by Samuel
Adams brewer Boston
Beer Company in 2013.
Hayes hasn’t tried bringing
his beer on a bus yet — he
is ironically observing Dry
January — but an employee
Floyd Hayes shows off his certifi cate for his emotional support beer, which he hopes to bring on public transit.
Photo by Caroline Ourso
at USA Service Dog Registration,
who declined to give
her name, was not amused by
Clinton Hill man’s shenanigans,
and said that registering
his beer with the company
would not provide him
with any benefi ts.
“He can register his beer
all day long, it’s not going to
get him anywhere,” she said.
The worker said that, while
landlords who don’t typically
allow pets in the buildings
will sometimes refer to their
registry, it has no legal merit,
and that anyone wishing to
bring an emotional support
animal on a plane, or place
of business requires written
medical approval from a doctor
under the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
“This will not get you into
Walmart, it will not get you
into Denny’s, it will only protect
you where you’re renting,”
she said.
As things stand, there
are thankfully no laws preventing
renters from living
with their emotional support
beers.
American hero
Clinton Hill man registers beer
as emotional support animal
RIDE FOR HALF PRICE
Starting in late January, low-income New York City residents
who are at or below the federal poverty level may qualify for
a half-priced transit fare using a Fair Fares MetroCard.
Check your eligibility at nyc.gov/fairfares
or call 311 for more information.
/fairfares
