Talk about a cold comfort!
A Clinton Hill man registered his beer as an emotional support animal last month, hoping the certification 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 contest, and I always wondered where you get that consent,” said Floyd Hayes.
“Not that I’m an alcoholic,” he added.
As first 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 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 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 benefits.
“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 tenants from living with their emotional support beers.
