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Travel

Should airports and airlines ban alcohol?

(125 Posts)
Sago Sun 09-Jul-23 18:47:43

We had friends for supper last night and had this debate.

Interestingly as we all drank many glasses of lovely wine we all 6 agreed we would feel much happier flying if all airports and planes were “dry”

Do you agree or do you enjoy a drink when on the plane or at the airport?

MerylStreep Tue 11-Jul-23 20:50:12

MillieBoris
Have you ever flown from Moscow or Reykjavik? I don’t know who would take the gold medal between them.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 20:10:53

Blondiescot we have an adult child who is neurodiverse and two grandchildren who are neurodiverse.

I am referring to parents who are not interacting with their children, refraining them from bad/antisocial behaviour.

The first time our autistic grandchild flew we had no idea how they would react, our AC and wife quietly spoke to those passengers closest and explained that they may have a problem, fortunately they didn’t.

Noise cancelling headphones, games consoles and familiar food all helped.

M0nica Tue 11-Jul-23 20:02:29

My impression was not of Gnners taking lots of flights but more not taking many.

As others have said, if family live the other side of the world, what is the alternative?

Blondiescot Tue 11-Jul-23 19:50:31

GrannyGravy13

Blondiescot

sodapop

I agree grandtanteJE65 people have to take responsibility for themselves and suffer the consequences if they behave badly.

Unfortunately, if you're stuck on a plane with people 'behaving badly', there's no escape, even if it is only for a couple of hours.

That’s how I feel about misbehaving children on a plane.

I flew with ours often on my own since they were babies, they have never been allowed to kick the seats in front, stand on the seats to look over the people in front or behind or generally make a nuisance.

Unfortunately there are many parents on planes who are under the impression that the nearby passengers want to interact with their offspring and listen to their tantrums.

We still fly with our GC fortunately they have been taught how to behave when travelling.

Imagine what it's like travelling with a children with ASN and getting filthy looks from other passengers who think they're simply behaving badly.

Joseann Tue 11-Jul-23 19:40:54

Ferries are filthy polluters.
Brittany Ferries are taking delivery of two new hybrid green vessels. They will be powered by cleaner liquefied natural gas fuel.

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Jul-23 19:33:48

4allweknow When was flying a "dry" activity?
I remember 24hour cocktails at airports in the days when flying was glamorous!

After a night "on the town" if we wanted to continue the party that's where we used to go!

Norah Tue 11-Jul-23 18:03:21

Jaxjacky

There are boats and trains too Norah, both of which have far less of a carbon footprint than planes.

Of course there are boats and trains. Boats make many people sickly. Trains seem to make a journey too long, imo. Ferries are filthy polluters.

An efficient, relatively pollution free channel tunnel to Europe exists.

But, people do travel to Australia, Hawaii, Florida - so they fly.

biglouis Tue 11-Jul-23 17:49:00

I can recall buying duty free in the USA when you had to show your ticket and they made note of your flight. Your duty free was bought to the plane and handed to you in your seat. You were not allowed access to it at the airport or on the flight.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 17:48:15

Blondiescot

sodapop

I agree grandtanteJE65 people have to take responsibility for themselves and suffer the consequences if they behave badly.

Unfortunately, if you're stuck on a plane with people 'behaving badly', there's no escape, even if it is only for a couple of hours.

That’s how I feel about misbehaving children on a plane.

I flew with ours often on my own since they were babies, they have never been allowed to kick the seats in front, stand on the seats to look over the people in front or behind or generally make a nuisance.

Unfortunately there are many parents on planes who are under the impression that the nearby passengers want to interact with their offspring and listen to their tantrums.

We still fly with our GC fortunately they have been taught how to behave when travelling.

Blondiescot Tue 11-Jul-23 17:38:55

sodapop

I agree grandtanteJE65 people have to take responsibility for themselves and suffer the consequences if they behave badly.

Unfortunately, if you're stuck on a plane with people 'behaving badly', there's no escape, even if it is only for a couple of hours.

Gundy Tue 11-Jul-23 17:32:58

Even without airport alcohol, kooks and mentals will board flights and cause chaos or attempted hijackings.

So no need to ban bars in airports and sales onboard for those that drink responsibly.
Cheers!
USA Gundy

sodapop Tue 11-Jul-23 17:23:23

I agree grandtanteJE65 people have to take responsibility for themselves and suffer the consequences if they behave badly.

grandtanteJE65 Tue 11-Jul-23 17:18:07

I am getting so tired of what someone once described as the Nanny state.

We have so many bans on what we may or may not do in public these days, we assuredly do not need more.

Bars and restaurants in airports should like all others simply refuse to serve obviously drunk customers, and airline staff when checking boarding cards deny anyone obviously drunk the right to board.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 16:48:22

Jaxjacky

There are boats and trains too Norah, both of which have far less of a carbon footprint than planes.

We have used the Shuttle frequently in the past, but DH is reluctant to drive down to Spain or Portugal at his age, and not overly keen to drive down to the Alps or South of France. We could make these journeys all the way by train, but not entirely practical or easy at his age (he is older than me)

Coach travel is not an option for me as I get sick.

Jaxjacky Tue 11-Jul-23 16:37:54

There are boats and trains too Norah, both of which have far less of a carbon footprint than planes.

Norah Tue 11-Jul-23 16:10:35

Romola

Having had to endure a flight with drunken fellow-passengers, I'm for banning alcohol at airports and limiting it in-flight drinks to 2 units per person.
(And I'm amazed at the number of flights GNers are apparently accustomed to make.)

Romola I'm amazed at the number of flights GNers are apparently accustomed to make.

We live on an island.

Flying is a way off the island. Simple, really.

Norah Tue 11-Jul-23 15:52:17

Jaxjacky I also think duty free should legally remain sealed from point of purchase until the purchaser is land side in their destination country.

Already clear at purchase. People simply find ways to evade rules.

Joseann Tue 11-Jul-23 15:50:15

So if you want to ban alcohol on flights, would you also apply the same rule to ferry journeys?

The bar can get pretty rowdy, but I guess the good thing about ferries is that you can escape the rabble by booking a cabin.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 15:43:48

Jaxjacky

I also think duty free should legally remain sealed from point of purchase until the purchaser is land side in their destination Country

That is the already the law for all duty free purchases, whatever Country you are flying from/to, but like all laws there will always be the few that think that the law doesn’t pertain to them.

Jaxjacky Tue 11-Jul-23 15:21:20

I’ve encountered those American youths GG13 on a flight to Nice, very brash and very sick!
I don’t think alcohol should be abolished at airports or on flights, but I do think airlines should be stricter on not allowing obviously drunk people to board.
I also think duty free should legally remain sealed from point of purchase until the purchaser is land side in their destination country.

Rosalyn69 Tue 11-Jul-23 15:20:17

As a non drinker and frequent flyer it’s hard to be objective but I can’t help feeling a ban would be a good idea if it stopped drunken behaviour and unpleasantness.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 15:08:57

MillieBoris

The Brits seen to be the worse culprits for abusing alcohol in airports and on planes. I was in Bristol airport last week and the whole place was like a zoo - groups of young guys downing pint after pint of lager at 9am - yelling and shouting- out of control.I’m no teatotaller I can assure you but they are making travel intolerable. Remember when it was glamorous to fly!!!

You have obviously not been around any American Students in Europe on Spring Break, unable to drink in USA until 21, they well and truly make up for it when outside of their own Country.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 11-Jul-23 15:07:36

We have always been frequent fliers my main family home was on mainland Europe for many years, so I was back and forth to visit my Mother and family.

We still have family and friends scattered across the globe and are now getting back in the routine of flying again post Covid.

Have never come across drunken behaviour in Business Class or Club Europe where all drinks are free and plentiful, as they are in the dedicated Airline Lounges.

If flying under four hours we will usually use Jet2 or EasyJet and so far haven’t encountered drunken behaviour, but then again we do not go to destinations popular with hens or stag parties.

Penalise those who are guilty of drunken behaviour (it is illegal to be drunk and disorderly in the U.K.). I am against removing the choice of the responsible flying population.

MillieBoris Tue 11-Jul-23 15:01:28

The Brits seen to be the worse culprits for abusing alcohol in airports and on planes. I was in Bristol airport last week and the whole place was like a zoo - groups of young guys downing pint after pint of lager at 9am - yelling and shouting- out of control.I’m no teatotaller I can assure you but they are making travel intolerable. Remember when it was glamorous to fly!!!

MillieBoris Tue 11-Jul-23 14:54:22

Re drunks gettin