Title: Strict Liquor Limit for Passengers at Europe's Major Airline Hubs
Airline giants, like Ryanair, are calling for a change at European airports. They're pushing for a two-drink limit per passenger, similar to how boarding passes are used to manage duty-free purchases. This proposal stems from the observation that during flight delays, passengers consume alcohol excessively without any constraints at airports. The airlines question why airport patrons aren't subject to the same limitations as they are on planes.
The budget airline, based in Ireland, has taken legal action against an unruly passenger following an incident last year. The passenger's behavior disrupted a flight from Dublin to Lanzaote, Spain, leading to a diversion and a delayed overnight stay, causing inconvenience to 160 passengers. Ryanair sought €15,000 in damages for this disruption.
Michael O'Leary, the airline's CEO, has been vocal about the need for stricter alcohol controls at airports. He attributes the rise in passenger violence on planes to the lack of such restrictions. Data from The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports this claim, showing an increase in unruly passenger incidents, with one such incident occurring on average for every 480 flights in 2023, compared to one incident per 568 flights in 2022. However, the data did not specify how many of these incidents involved alcohol.
Ryanair, along with other airlines, already have measures in place to regulate alcohol consumption on flights. These include restricting and limiting alcohol sales, particularly in situations involving disruptive passengers. In Ireland, being drunk on a plane to an extent that endangers others is illegal, punishable by a fine of up to £500 or a maximum of four months' imprisonment or a fine of £700.
Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, suggests that stricter alcohol controls at airports could help reduce the rise in passenger violence on planes. The proposal to limit alcohol consumption at airports stems from the observation that passengers often consume alcohol excessively during flight delays, with no constraints.
