Eliminating alcohol from airports and/or planes

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't see how this somehow limits our freedoms if airlines decide to stop serving alcohol. It is a safety issue when unruly passengers get into a brawl at 30,000 feet in the air. No one can predict ahead of time who will behave that way. Airlines run a private business and people are welcome to travel with some other airline or drive by car if they don't like the rules of that airline. I guess those same people will argue we shouldn't have speed limits on freeways because that somehow inhibits their freedom.

The freedom argument gets in the way because then that's all everyone focuses on and then we get the speed limit and seat belt discussion.

In this case it's misattributing things. Of course alcohol can create situations that get out of control, where people lose inhibitions and their tongues get loose. However, that isn't the case for all passengers who end up being classified as unruly. If they think removing alcohol from the equation will mean people won't still get to the level of being jerks, won't still have to be escorted off the plane or have fights with other people (be it passengers or FAs or gate agents) or insults thrown or this passenger kicking that passenger's chair or encroaching on their space and causing issues, etc well I highly doubt it.

We rarely get a drink on SWA (always with a drink coupon) so would we personally be offended? No but I don't see it actually solving the issue long-term. If you consider that alcohol wasn't on the flight when this fight occurred in particular with SWA, and that the fight was about masks we know fights have broken out just over that. People will find a way if they really want to, being asked to move, luggage won't fit, tray table up, etc

 

[Karin1984]

I'm interested if that would mean that restaurants & bars at airports would also stop serving alcohol. Due to passengers with jetlags, at least all international airports have bars that are serving alcohol all opening hours.

 

[Micca]

eliminating booze, haha. That's like trying to eliminate prostitution.

Wait...which airline offers that???

 

[_19disnA]

The confined space of an airplane is a lot different setting to me then a bar on the ground. All kinds of bad things can happen if unruly passengers try to open the exit door or get into the cockpit at altitude.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Wait...which airline offers that???

Bangkok Airways?

 

[Jnjtrio]

I do not think you will be able to end the ban on alcohol in airports, it is a huge money maker for the restaurants in the airports and many would end their tenancy.

Airlines have the option of changing what they serve at will. I would just like to get back to normal offers and meals on flights, we normally fly first class and I do miss the variety.

 

[fly girl]

The confined space of an airplane is a lot different setting to me then a bar on the ground. All kinds of bad things can happen if unruly passengers try to open the exit door or get into the cockpit at altitude.

FYI, you cannot open an exit door/window inflight. They are pressurized, unless you have a rapid decompression there is no physical way to open them. Cockpit entry is another beast, but it is a lot different than it used to be. They are reinforced bullet proof doors with all sorts of security around them.

 

[robinb]

I just flew Southwest and they announced on both flights that you could no longer drink your own carry-on alcohol on the plane. I had no idea that was allowed in the first place!

I enjoy a nice cocktail or glass of wine on a long flight so I would not be in favor of eliminating alcohol on flights. Simply enforce the rules on the bozos who break the rules.

 

[fly girl]

I just flew Southwest and they announced on both flights that you could no longer drink your own carry-on alcohol on the plane. I had no idea that was allowed in the first place!

I enjoy a nice cocktail or glass of wine on a long flight so I would not be in favor of eliminating alcohol on flights. Simply enforce the rules on the bozos who break the rules.

Hmmm... technically you cannot byob per FAA rules.

121.575 alcoholic beverages: (a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.

However, you can skate that rule by giving your alcohol to the flight attendants and them serving you, but it isn't a given. In 20 years of flying, I have never had someone ask, although I do know a few F/A's that have. It is definitely not a regular occurrence, and I am thankful it isn't because it would be a nightmare (and F/A's would screaming off the rooftops to ban it.) Truthfully, most people just sneak it. Although, if you do sneak and we catch you, we have to take it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I just flew Southwest and they announced on both flights that you could no longer drink your own carry-on alcohol on the plane. I had no idea that was allowed in the first place!

I enjoy a nice cocktail or glass of wine on a long flight so I would not be in favor of eliminating alcohol on flights. Simply enforce the rules on the bozos who break the rules.

Hmmm... technically you cannot byob per FAA rules.

121.575 alcoholic beverages: (a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.

However, you can skate that rule by giving your alcohol to the flight attendants and them serving you, but it isn't a given. In 20 years of flying, I have never had someone ask, although I do know a few F/A's that have. It is definitely not a regular occurrence, and I am thankful it isn't because it would be a nightmare (and F/A's would screaming off the rooftops to ban it.) Truthfully, most people just sneak it. Although, if you do sneak and we catch you, we have to take it.

When we were on our Vegas flight back in March they announced this too and it threw me for a loop like robinb. I didn't even know about this rule and my husband explained it to me. I think they may be saying this to make it clear no alcohol period since they wouldn't be serving it either because in all the flights he had done and I had done it had never been announced like that before but on all other flights beverages have always been able to be served unless turbulence or other issues arose so I'm thinking they were just trying to make people aware you can't just crack open that liquor period.

 

[bookgirl]

I honestly don't have a problem with this. No alcohol would solve a lot of problems.

I usually do get free alcohol when I fly, but honestly I maybe get a drink half the time and I really only drink on long haul trips (6 or more hours) almost never on a shorter (2-4) hour trip and even then I probably will only have one.

I do occasionally get a drink at the airport but it's expensive and I'm just not enough of a drinker to care if I can or can't.

So while I'm not against alcohol at the airport or on planes, I don't see getting rid of it as a bad thing.

I also don't see it being a freedom thing. No where in any civil rights document have I ever seen booze as a Right. I was a smoker when they banned cigarettes, and I do drink. In no way does the restriction of these in airports or on planes infringe on my or anyone's personal rights. Stay home and drink and smoke or drive your car. But every company has the right to restrict what happens on their property as long as it is within the law.

 

[NotUrsula]

I once heard a SWA FA make an announcement about a safety rule that was prefaced with "new FAA rules require that", but I knew the rule had been around a while. I was waiting for the aft lav later and asked him about that supposed rule change. He laughed and said that I was correct that the rule had been in place for several years, but that he had found that passengers were less likely to argue about rules if the FAs implied that there had recently been some sort of change. I thought about and figured that he had not said WHEN the rules changed, exactly. "New" can be in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

 

[fly girl]

When we were on our Vegas flight back in March they announced this too and it threw me for a loop like robinb. I didn't even know about this rule and my husband explained it to me. I think they may be saying this to make it clear no alcohol period since they wouldn't be serving it either because in all the flights he had done and I had done it had never been announced like that before but on all other flights beverages have always been able to be served unless turbulence or other issues arose so I'm thinking they were just trying to make people aware you can't just crack open that liquor period.

Oh my! I have to say then the wording of that message isn't clear. It really does make you think that prior to this ban that you could drink your own alcohol leisurely at your own whim. No doubt, I would have heard it that way too! I get the message they are trying to convey, but the wording is poor. It happens, hopefully they will change the verbiage.

 

[bcla]

Hmmm... technically you cannot byob per FAA rules.

121.575 alcoholic beverages: (a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.

However, you can skate that rule by giving your alcohol to the flight attendants and them serving you, but it isn't a given. In 20 years of flying, I have never had someone ask, although I do know a few F/A's that have. It is definitely not a regular occurrence, and I am thankful it isn't because it would be a nightmare (and F/A's would screaming off the rooftops to ban it.) Truthfully, most people just sneak it. Although, if you do sneak and we catch you, we have to take it.

To do it these days, it would require it being in some mini-bottles - each under 100 ml - and then no more than what fits in a quart plastic bag. I don't think it legally needs to be factory sealed if it's in carry on, like a mini-flask or just a reusable bottle. This looks like a good stash.

Now I understand the FAA rules that would allow flight attendants to serve passenger-provided alcoholic beverages. But I'm not 100% sure about how that might work at an airport terminal. Maybe someone getting loaded before security, or perhaps sneaking in some at the gate waiting area. All I can find is rules about anyone with an airport ID and the use of alcohol. Apparently anyone with an airport ID at San Francisco International Airport isn't allowed to consume alcohol within 8 hours before work times.

We certainly have public transportation where alcohol is strangely enough allowed. Golden Gate Ferry allows it. And the most notorious is Caltrain. The time I rode in a while I saw people with cases of beer having their own little party. I've talked to conductors who mentioned that they have people slamming down shots. And then losing it in the vestibule, where stainless steel is easier to clean. I've also ridden on Amtrak where they have rules that don't allow personal alcohol except in sleeping quarters. You can buy your own. But then I talked about it with a few conductors who said they really won't enforce it unless someone is being disruptive.

 

[penn19]

“Supposedly” you can sneak alcohol on a plane by pouring it into a soft drink cup with a lid and straw when you’re at the airport bar. I personally have never done it but one of the servers at the airport told me.

 

[fly girl]

To do it these days, it would require it being in some mini-bottles - each under 100 ml - and then no more than what fits in a quart plastic bag. I don't think it legally needs to be factory sealed if it's in carry on, like a mini-flask or just a reusable bottle. This looks like a good stash.

Now I understand the FAA rules that would allow flight attendants to serve passenger-provided alcoholic beverages. But I'm not 100% sure about how that might work at an airport terminal. Maybe someone getting loaded before security, or perhaps sneaking in some at the gate waiting area. All I can find is rules about anyone with an airport ID and the use of alcohol. Apparently anyone with an airport ID at San Francisco International Airport isn't allowed to consume alcohol within 8 hours before work times.

That was a good stash. Not going to lie, if you are smart about it the crew will never know.

No clue about the terminal. I think it would depend on the city/state you were in and their laws. But honestly, I really don't know. If you were not on my plane, you were not my problem. Obviously, I would have helped you if you needed it, and if I saw something suspicious in a terroristic way I would have reported it, but drinking booze ... not my business unless you are on my aircraft.

“Supposedly” you can sneak alcohol on a plane by pouring it into a soft drink cup with a lid and straw when you’re at the airport bar. I personally have never done it but one of the servers at the airport told me.

You definitely could. No one is checking your soft drink cup at the gate or as you board. But I think the bartenders could run a risk of getting in trouble.

 

[EACarlson]

Would depend on the local rules of the airport you're in. I remember an FA on a SWA flight in 2018 that the no personal alcohol on board was mentioned during the safety brief, might have had something to do with the fact the flight was continuing on to vegas from Milwaukee, there were quite a few people that had 12 packs of beer like they were just waiting to crack them open on the plane.

I don't care if an airline wants to do it, I have a big issue if the government dictates it.

 

[bcla]

That was a good stash. Not going to lie, if you are smart about it the crew will never know.

No clue about the terminal. I think it would depend on the city/state you were in and their laws. But honestly, I really don't know. If you were not on my plane, you were not my problem. Obviously, I would have helped you if you needed it, and if I saw something suspicious in a terroristic way I would have reported it, but drinking booze ... not my business unless you are on my aircraft.

The irony is TSA or contracted security can’t assume that it’s for consumption in the terminal, on the plane, or at the destination.

I have heard about a passenger who was told he couldn’t bring liquor past security and drank the whole bottle. The worst that happened to me was bottled water or soda cans. And once it was just a standard sized toothpaste tube I dumped.

I have been to airports where the restaurant and bar areas had posted signs saying that alcoholic beverages aren’t allowed past a certain area. Enforcement is the key though. I asked our chief of police about whether or not alcohol at block parties was legal. He said it was technically not, but his department had better things to do than arrest someone with a beer in hand who isn’t causing a disturbance. Also about alcohol in parklets. Also technically not legal, but there’s no enforcement. When I asked if I could drink my own there, I was even offered a bottle cap opener.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I totally agree. We have no definitive trip plans right now...and after seeing some of the latest incidents online, I'm not so sure I want to be flying until things get back to a little more normal. People are just really on edge. The one I saw recently was the Southwest Flight from Sacramento to San Diego....with the woman who sucker punched a flight attendant in the face. I'm not sure if the woman was drunk, but she looked like she may have been. But....the flight from Sacramento to San Diego is 1.5 hours, and you're not getting a drink in coach in the back of the plane where she was seated...until maybe 30 minutes into the flight. If she was drunk...she got drunk in the airport before she boarded.

We only have a drink if it's a longer flight....like if we're heading to Europe on an evening flight...and you have dinner and a glass of wine...and maybe a second glass while watching a movie before trying to sleep. I will say this, I'd definitely miss having some wine if we were flying in the front of the plane...for sure. For us, it is a part of the experience to be pampered a bit if we're up there. I wouldn't turn down an upgrade to business...ever, but I wouldn't pay for a ticket up there if I wasn't getting full service.

I will say this though, it's not necessarily alcohol that causes all of the issues. We were on a flight from Newark to Paris several years back and a woman across the aisle from us started kicking the seat in front of her. The guy reclined his seat, after the meal, which is acceptable. And it was economy plus, so there was a bit more room. She was definitely off for sure. She started gently kind of thumping her knee into the seat, when the guy and his wife turned to talk to her she pretended she was sleeping....and then full on started kicked the seat. When you're at 37,000 feet and two parties are screaming at each other...right in each other's faces, it's very unsettling. My husband was on the aisle seat and was thisclose to standing up to try and intervene. The flight attendant finally arrived and talked to the woman. She left and the woman started it again, and then another man did get up and stood right next to the woman and told her she's be arrested if she continued that behavior. We found out later he was an Air Marshall. The flight attendant finally moved her to a seat near that air Marshall....and he kept an eye on her for the rest of the flight.

You only hear the crazy stuff. We've flown several times in the last eight months with no problems. Our last trip was extremely smooth.

 

[NotUrsula]

To do it these days, it would require it being in some mini-bottles - each under 100 ml - and then no more than what fits in a quart plastic bag. I don't think it legally needs to be factory sealed if it's in carry on, like a mini-flask or just a reusable bottle. This looks like a good stash.

Now I understand the FAA rules that would allow flight attendants to serve passenger-provided alcoholic beverages. But I'm not 100% sure about how that might work at an airport terminal. Maybe someone getting loaded before security, or perhaps sneaking in some at the gate waiting area. All I can find is rules about anyone with an airport ID and the use of alcohol. Apparently anyone with an airport ID at San Francisco International Airport isn't allowed to consume alcohol within 8 hours before work times.

We certainly have public transportation where alcohol is strangely enough allowed. Golden Gate Ferry allows it. And the most notorious is Caltrain. The time I rode in a while I saw people with cases of beer having their own little party. I've talked to conductors who mentioned that they have people slamming down shots. And then losing it in the vestibule, where stainless steel is easier to clean. I've also ridden on Amtrak where they have rules that don't allow personal alcohol except in sleeping quarters. You can buy your own. But then I talked about it with a few conductors who said they really won't enforce it unless someone is being disruptive.

Or, you can get creative, like the ladies on the special birthday trip to Orlando that were at my gate last July. There was a bit of a weather delay, so we were at the gate for awhile, and the SWA terminal at my airport has that "charging bar" seating.

So, I'm walking over to the restroom, and I see this group of women standing around a charging bar chatting and laughing, and they all have big custom-decorated Tervis tumblers with X's Birthday Bash, and the date. The tumblers were at least 32 oz size, and perhaps a bit bigger.

As I walked back past them, I could see two of them seated with their carryons in their lap. pouring powdered margarita mix into bottles of water. Naturally, I had to linger where I could see what happened next. Sure enough, out came the full-sized contact lens solution bottles, which had apparently been emptied and refilled with tequila. They were tending bar; squirting tequila into the bottom of each tumbler and then topping it off with margarita mix from the water bottles. They had ice in the carryon bags as well. By the time we boarded the flight that whole group was bombed out of their minds. They were seated right behind me, and I overheard them discussing buying more tequila at the Orlando duty-free; they were connecting for a flight to the Caribbean from there, and they wanted to make sure they had enough to keep the buzz on.
I'm guessing by then they would have been too blotto to remember to be discreet, even if they managed to open a new bottle.

Not that I'm advocating such a ridiculous sideshow, but is it actually illegal to drink saline solution? Would an FA have had reason to confiscate the bottles? AFAIK, the FAs didn't try to take it from the women topping up the drinks on board, but I could tell the FAs were plenty annoyed at how loud they were.