The nanny state is not a solution, personal responsibility is. Drunk and disorderly ought to have consequences- from being prohibited from buying alcohol on a plane to higher ticket prices, to full flight banning, like a passenger credit rating that could be shared amongst all airlines; we have the technology. It's not like flying isn't already half miserable. Getting overcharged for crappy wine and liquor while stuck in a seat designed to be comfortable for an average 9 year old, a stiff drink is one of the few pleasures left.
The nanny state gets involved because many people are unwilling to take personal responsibility. The actions you mention make a lot of sense but may meet the same response as red light cameras. Actually penalizing or banning repeat offenders is rarely done in any setting, except in 3-strike states.
That is not a case for the State to get involved. There is plenty of questionable behavior that occurs, in the air, not all alcohol related. Let the airlines figure their business out, and let the customers vote with their feet. If it bothers you, find a flight or an airline that is alcohol free and patronize them. The State has enough on their hands with tariffs, wars and fraud, let the market decide.
So - group punishment for all because a few cannot control themselves.?
I rarely drink alcohol on domestic flights - mostly because I am driving when landing. However on international flights - I enjoy wine and champagne with meals.
Limiting the number of drinks per hour seems like a logical answer - similiar to the social laws a bartender must observe on the ground.
The existing law - and both public and regulatory pressure on airlines to properly apply it - should be enough. I do not want to live in the world that results from "*they* can't be bothered to be responsible, so *you* aren't allowed to be the responsible adult who you are".
Something a lot of people don’t consider when it comes to drinking on a plane—is that passenger driving after the flight lands? We hold bartenders responsible for over serving their customers. Does the airline that served a passenger five drinks on a two hour flight responsible if that person crashes their car? I rarely drink alcohol personally, and I don’t understand why someone can’t be content with 1-2 beverages but I imagine it could get ugly when they are cut off.
I would think that the cost and potential payout of liability insurance would more than offset the revenue lost by curtailing alcohol on flights. It's perverse that "the safety and comfort of our passengers" is considered a top priority when the very same airlines and their FAs responsible for delivering safety and comfort are actively undermining it by serving alcohol.
I don't drink alcohol during flight...but I recommend that alcoholic drinks should no longer be served during flights..just like when airlines stopped smoking on planes....Removing alcoholic drinks will prevent any negative effects that might trigger negative behaviors during flights,and if it is banned ..people will just accept it, less possible problems to occur!!!! So one problem solved!!!!
It used to be a law in New Mexico, and may still be, no alcohol was served on flites landing in Albuquerque. This came to pass after there was a multi-fatality auto accident precipitated by inflite alcohol consumption.
If someone becomes intoxicated on a flight, chances are very good that they got a head start at an airport bar or in an airline club lounge where the drinks are for the most part free. I've flown more than two million butt in the seat miles and have never witnessed a physical or verbal altercation on board -- maybe just some excessively loud snoring. I think that the ability of all of us to take videos these days and post them on YouTube blows the issue all out of proportion.
I do not drink while flying as I am a lightweight drinker to begin with. It would t end well. As a passenger who has been sandwiched between two drinkers on a flight that ended up on a runway waiting for storms to pass for so long that the attendants just started passing out the alcohol to whoever, I would like to have drinking sections like the old smoking sections. Then over indulges can annoy each other and not me.
This is another one of those controversial topics (larger seats for larger people? more legroom for taller people? pets welcome on all flights? dress codes?). I personally think alcohol and flights don't mix. It's not only the availability of alcohol, but the increasing lack of civility and respect for others. I understand the bottom line aspect, but if airlines can charge silly amounts for checking a bag or choosing a seat, why not charge silly amounts for alcohol? Free alcohol needs to stop. Perhaps $10 per adult beverage would discourage people from thinking a flight is a free for all liquor buffet. Limiting drinks in airport bars is not a workable solution; the drinker will just move along to another bar. Asking cabin crew to not serve over-served passengers will probably result in flying fists. I personally love the peace on Middle Eastern flights that don't serve alcohol. My opinion, and I don't want to suggest that works for all airlines, but there must be a workable middle ground.
I've been a fairly frequent flyer since the late 1980s, domestic and international, long-haul and short haul, business and pleasure. I've never seen an incident related to over-consumption of alcohol, though I have no doubt that they occur.
If I read the graph correctly, nowadays around 1.5% of flights lead to an alcohol-related incident. Presumably most of these do not create a disturbance beyond those passenger near the offender. Let's just say that 20% of the time, a given passenger will witness an on-board incident related to over-consumption. That means a passenger has around an 0.3% chance of even witnessing an incident, whether personally involved or not.
So it's unsurprising that many flyers have witnessed an incident, although a fair number of passengers consume alcohol in flight or beforehand. I often drink alcohol on board (I don't drive), and like most people, I do not call attention to myself and have never been tempted to do anything beyond doze off.
First of all, Chris, it seems that a lot of what you said in this is article is "preaching to the choir." I think that most of us here are "social" drinkers who don't drink to excess, and know the consequences of too much alcohol, and why especially that should be avoided on flights. Other than that, let's talk about the "other people."
I believe sometime back, I told you about a young man who was seated next to me, pre 9/11, on a trip to his mother's wedding, and who my wife saw not only drinking at the bar, heavily, in the airport, but who had a bottle of Jack Daniels in his carry-on bag, and fell asleep with his head on my shoulder for the second half of the flight.
Fortunately, experiences I have had with others drinking excessively on flights has generally been the drinker falling asleep. However I am all too familiar with the incidents of intoxicated passengers causing problems on flights.
I don't see why there cannot be a specified limit, either by the airlines on their own or by regulation, based upon a guideline that limits the number of drinks during a flight, with a per person per hour limit, and also based on how long the flight is. Sophisticated computer program needed to keep track of this? No, just a piece of paper taped to a galley door with a left column saying seat numbers and the right side with hash marks as to how many drinks the person in seat no. x has had.
Would this limitation make passengers belligerent? Less so if the rule was well published or a flight attendant simply mentioned the limit when serving a drink. Of course, this does not give insight as to how many drinks the person had had before they boarded the aircraft, but flight attendants, just like bartenders, should be able to decide when to cut someone off. A passenger objecting because of being cut off would Validate the flight attendant's position, and general reminder of the consequences of interfering with a flight crew would be helpful.
The nanny state is not a solution, personal responsibility is. Drunk and disorderly ought to have consequences- from being prohibited from buying alcohol on a plane to higher ticket prices, to full flight banning, like a passenger credit rating that could be shared amongst all airlines; we have the technology. It's not like flying isn't already half miserable. Getting overcharged for crappy wine and liquor while stuck in a seat designed to be comfortable for an average 9 year old, a stiff drink is one of the few pleasures left.
The nanny state gets involved because many people are unwilling to take personal responsibility. The actions you mention make a lot of sense but may meet the same response as red light cameras. Actually penalizing or banning repeat offenders is rarely done in any setting, except in 3-strike states.
That is not a case for the State to get involved. There is plenty of questionable behavior that occurs, in the air, not all alcohol related. Let the airlines figure their business out, and let the customers vote with their feet. If it bothers you, find a flight or an airline that is alcohol free and patronize them. The State has enough on their hands with tariffs, wars and fraud, let the market decide.
So - group punishment for all because a few cannot control themselves.?
I rarely drink alcohol on domestic flights - mostly because I am driving when landing. However on international flights - I enjoy wine and champagne with meals.
Limiting the number of drinks per hour seems like a logical answer - similiar to the social laws a bartender must observe on the ground.
I would like to submit that on some routes, an alcohol free flight may just be able to achieve a premium over flights with alcohol.
The existing law - and both public and regulatory pressure on airlines to properly apply it - should be enough. I do not want to live in the world that results from "*they* can't be bothered to be responsible, so *you* aren't allowed to be the responsible adult who you are".
The problem is not drinking on the plane. Attendants or policy can control that. It’s drinking before getting on the plane. Good luck solving that.
Public intoxication is a crime. Not sober not flying. Period.
Something a lot of people don’t consider when it comes to drinking on a plane—is that passenger driving after the flight lands? We hold bartenders responsible for over serving their customers. Does the airline that served a passenger five drinks on a two hour flight responsible if that person crashes their car? I rarely drink alcohol personally, and I don’t understand why someone can’t be content with 1-2 beverages but I imagine it could get ugly when they are cut off.
I would think that the cost and potential payout of liability insurance would more than offset the revenue lost by curtailing alcohol on flights. It's perverse that "the safety and comfort of our passengers" is considered a top priority when the very same airlines and their FAs responsible for delivering safety and comfort are actively undermining it by serving alcohol.
I don't drink alcohol during flight...but I recommend that alcoholic drinks should no longer be served during flights..just like when airlines stopped smoking on planes....Removing alcoholic drinks will prevent any negative effects that might trigger negative behaviors during flights,and if it is banned ..people will just accept it, less possible problems to occur!!!! So one problem solved!!!!
To some degree, but assholes will still be assholes, regardless.!
You do realise smoking flights still exist outside the US right?
Alcohol should be banned on all flights and 1 drink at airport bars.
Ban alcohol on planes and only one drink per customer in airport bars and restaurants.
It used to be a law in New Mexico, and may still be, no alcohol was served on flites landing in Albuquerque. This came to pass after there was a multi-fatality auto accident precipitated by inflite alcohol consumption.
If someone becomes intoxicated on a flight, chances are very good that they got a head start at an airport bar or in an airline club lounge where the drinks are for the most part free. I've flown more than two million butt in the seat miles and have never witnessed a physical or verbal altercation on board -- maybe just some excessively loud snoring. I think that the ability of all of us to take videos these days and post them on YouTube blows the issue all out of proportion.
I do not drink while flying as I am a lightweight drinker to begin with. It would t end well. As a passenger who has been sandwiched between two drinkers on a flight that ended up on a runway waiting for storms to pass for so long that the attendants just started passing out the alcohol to whoever, I would like to have drinking sections like the old smoking sections. Then over indulges can annoy each other and not me.
lol. That’s a good idea.
This is another one of those controversial topics (larger seats for larger people? more legroom for taller people? pets welcome on all flights? dress codes?). I personally think alcohol and flights don't mix. It's not only the availability of alcohol, but the increasing lack of civility and respect for others. I understand the bottom line aspect, but if airlines can charge silly amounts for checking a bag or choosing a seat, why not charge silly amounts for alcohol? Free alcohol needs to stop. Perhaps $10 per adult beverage would discourage people from thinking a flight is a free for all liquor buffet. Limiting drinks in airport bars is not a workable solution; the drinker will just move along to another bar. Asking cabin crew to not serve over-served passengers will probably result in flying fists. I personally love the peace on Middle Eastern flights that don't serve alcohol. My opinion, and I don't want to suggest that works for all airlines, but there must be a workable middle ground.
I've been a fairly frequent flyer since the late 1980s, domestic and international, long-haul and short haul, business and pleasure. I've never seen an incident related to over-consumption of alcohol, though I have no doubt that they occur.
If I read the graph correctly, nowadays around 1.5% of flights lead to an alcohol-related incident. Presumably most of these do not create a disturbance beyond those passenger near the offender. Let's just say that 20% of the time, a given passenger will witness an on-board incident related to over-consumption. That means a passenger has around an 0.3% chance of even witnessing an incident, whether personally involved or not.
So it's unsurprising that many flyers have witnessed an incident, although a fair number of passengers consume alcohol in flight or beforehand. I often drink alcohol on board (I don't drive), and like most people, I do not call attention to myself and have never been tempted to do anything beyond doze off.
It seems like not a serious problem.
First of all, Chris, it seems that a lot of what you said in this is article is "preaching to the choir." I think that most of us here are "social" drinkers who don't drink to excess, and know the consequences of too much alcohol, and why especially that should be avoided on flights. Other than that, let's talk about the "other people."
I believe sometime back, I told you about a young man who was seated next to me, pre 9/11, on a trip to his mother's wedding, and who my wife saw not only drinking at the bar, heavily, in the airport, but who had a bottle of Jack Daniels in his carry-on bag, and fell asleep with his head on my shoulder for the second half of the flight.
Fortunately, experiences I have had with others drinking excessively on flights has generally been the drinker falling asleep. However I am all too familiar with the incidents of intoxicated passengers causing problems on flights.
I don't see why there cannot be a specified limit, either by the airlines on their own or by regulation, based upon a guideline that limits the number of drinks during a flight, with a per person per hour limit, and also based on how long the flight is. Sophisticated computer program needed to keep track of this? No, just a piece of paper taped to a galley door with a left column saying seat numbers and the right side with hash marks as to how many drinks the person in seat no. x has had.
Would this limitation make passengers belligerent? Less so if the rule was well published or a flight attendant simply mentioned the limit when serving a drink. Of course, this does not give insight as to how many drinks the person had had before they boarded the aircraft, but flight attendants, just like bartenders, should be able to decide when to cut someone off. A passenger objecting because of being cut off would Validate the flight attendant's position, and general reminder of the consequences of interfering with a flight crew would be helpful.