Flying and alcohol (middle east, cocaine, death, solution)

[victimofGM]

Should there be restrictions on alcohol in regards to being a passenger on a flight? For example, should airports have a BAC limit on flying passengers like for driving? If the passenger at the gate smells of alcohol then the TSA pulls out a breathalyzer and if they blow above a certain number then they won’t be allowed on the flight.

[Arktikos]

I believe there are limitations regarding how many drinks a person is allowed to purchase. Also, if a prospective traveler is obviously drunk before boarding then the airlines already have the authority and vested interest in denying them a seat.

Breathalyzer at the gate? My vote would be "no". Do I ever drink before or during a flight? No.

[Lillie767]

I wish airlines would not serve alcoholic beverages at all.

In case of emergency, I don't want drunks sitting in the exit row or stumbling and blocking the aisles!

Are people drinking because they are bored or because they can't go without an alcoholic drink for the few hours they are airborne?

[heavymind]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

Are people drinking because they are bored or because they can't go without an alcoholic drink for the few hours they are airborne?

Probably both. In my mind, most people aren't sipping on booze throughout the day...or are they? Maybe being in close quarters on a plane shows the reality of most people's coping mechanisms, or maybe they're using the trip as an excuse to do something crazy they would normally not do (day drinking).

I'm a drinker, but on domestic flights lasting a few hours? Pass. Too expensive, and leads to too many disruptive jaunts to the lavatory overall. I was on a 13-hour international flight once and the woman beside me knocked back two airline bottles of wine within half an hour, put her eye mask on, and went to sleep. When I found out up to two bottles were complimentary, I did the same and snoozed comfortably for most of the flight. Flight attendants probably prefer passengers knocked out rather than bored out of their skulls, asking for things and moving around.

[roodd279]

A topic dear to my heart Folks, lots of misconceptions and unreasonable expectations - and bad media - here.

I fly - a - ton. If you do NOT fly very often, then, first things first - you don't get a vote, because your views are skewed somehow. Here's why:
I nearly never - and by that, I mean, NEVER - see someone "TOO DRUNK" on a plane. Oh, I'm sure it happens - but it is simply NOT very common. The idea that every plane has some sloshed moron causing a ruckus - simply untrue. Alcohol has been served on planes, well, since there have been planes. It's not the BOOZE that's the problem - it's the total decline of manners, common sense, and self-control. In other words, we have more drunken morons on the ground now than ever before - so stands to reason some are on the plane. But I digress...


1. There is NO LIMIT on how much you can drink - who said that? None at all. But at the gate-agents discretion, you can be denied boarding.

2. A breathalyzer? OK - barring the crazy and huge hurdles of technology that would require - the question becomes - WHY? What percent of planes have an unreasonable drunk? How much damage per year is caused? Crimes? And so on. What you would find is - the breathalyzer would not earn its own keep.

3. Yes, drinks are expensive, in the airport, and on domestic flights. This is (my opinion) only partly intentional - it does indeed keep the drunks to a minimum. Not unusual to pay $20 or more per drink at some airports. So ya have 2 or 3 before ya go - you're not drunk - but the budget tends to hold you back...
4. International flights (long haul) alcohol is almost always free, for the entire plane - not just first class. That's right. 300 people on a plane, free booze for 8 or 10 or 12 hours - and I have NEVER seen someone over do it to the point of disruption. Never. AGAIN - I'm not saying it doesn't happen - but it's not common.
5. Flight attendants are, well, attentive - if they think you've had enough - that's it. You're not getting more. I've seen that a few times. But no adverse response.

6. Most folks are traveling for fun. It's vacation. The airport is the start of the vacation - not the destination. The airport. That's the first day of time off, the first moment of No Car, the first hours of NO KIDS, and so on. The AIRPORT is actually PART OF the vacation - and so people drink. At the bar, on the plane, whatever - does NOT mean they drink at home all day most days - no - and that is why they're taking a vacation. MYOB.
7. Plenty of folks are anti-drinking for whatever reason. Religion, experience, upbringing, health - whatever - but that is a YOU qualifier. Do not try to attach your preference to other folks. True everywhere, not just in the air.


Now - real quick, almost done - who IS doing the drinking - I mean, who are the actual drunks on planes?


Very easy. Folks caught in a lengthy delay. They set out to have one beer while they wait, now it's six...er....seven. Oh crap, time to board. This problem is compounded if the passenger has access to a lounge - where ALL THE BOOZE IS FREE. Now, how did it get "Free?" Easy! Super High Credit Card Fees. Why do people pay them? FREE BOOZE, since they're $20 apiece in the concourse. It sure ain't for the free m&ms. So to get rid of booze in the air and on planes, all ya have to do is get four of the nations largest banks to agree on cancelling their most lucrative clients, while asking airlines to cancel a huge profit center domestically (booze). Then, in the airport concourse, ask the vendors with the highest profit margin to please stop selling their best moneymaker. THEN - remove it from first class as a perk. Finally - tell international passengers - who tend to drink more but misbehave less - that US carriers HAVE NO BOOZE* - so that they can fly foreign carriers exclusively, unless you're hoping Air France will ban Bordeaux. Not gonna happen. They might value their wine more than your flying business.



*And then we - the USA - would join just about a dozen other nations, mainly middle Eastern - that do not allow booze. ALL OTHER NATIONS allow it - - so you'd have to explain how our airlines would remain competitive ...


All told then, there are huuuge difficulties with removing booze from planes, and practically no reason to do so, with little motivation from the airlines, except to appease a handful of anti-drinking folks - since the REAL damage of drunks on planes is not actually measurable. AGAIN - yes - it happens - it's just not that common, people, just live and let live, and don't be one of the idiots at the bar.

[Teacher Terry]

I have flown often and only once did I see someone drunk. He was starting to be a problem as he wasn’t happy how long he had to wait for a drink. The stewardess quietly told him she would keep him supplied for the flight provided he was quiet. But if he got obnoxious again she would cut him off. He was quiet the rest of the flight but he drank a lot. In general it’s not a problem.

[mustangman66]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

I wish airlines would not serve alcoholic beverages at all.

In case of emergency, I don't want drunks sitting in the exit row or stumbling and blocking the aisles!

Are people drinking because they are bored or because they can't go without an alcoholic drink for the few hours they are airborne?

I have anxiety when it comes to flying and before I was prescribed medication I would drink at the terminal before getting on a plane to calm my nerves. I would gladly take a drink on the plane as well but I never got drunk, just a good buzz. I have such anxiety when it comes to flying that even on the remote chance I do find myself on a plane, after having taken the meds I will sometimes still have a drink if offered because my adrenaline kicks in and I dont feel the meds anymore. When I told my doctor about how the meds (cant remember the name of them now) did not do the trick, she asked if I ever tried drinking before getting on a plane, lol. My doctor is down to earth and is very blunt when it comes to certain things.

I relate any emergency on an aircraft to result in death, so I am not concerned about others that may have had too much as long as they arent belligerent.

[roodd279]

Adding on here - if you can't drink ON the plane (as during COVID) - then drunks will just drink more and faster in the concourse, which overall led to more drunks on planes. If you cannot drink in the concourse - then folks will just bring a cooler and get smashed in the parking lot, then there can be drunks in the suitcase line too. Yay.


The idea that there is some logic or rule or penalty that would magically result in zero drunks on plane is nonsense. The solution does not exist. People try to bring guns, knives, cocaine, snakes, kidnapped children, fake rolex, and guide peacocks every day - at every airport - now we'll be searching for contra-booze too. How long and slow do you want the line to be?

[kgordeeva]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

I wish airlines would not serve alcoholic beverages at all.

In case of emergency, I don't want drunks sitting in the exit row or stumbling and blocking the aisles!

Are people drinking because they are bored or because they can't go without an alcoholic drink for the few hours they are airborne?

In my case, it's boredom. When I'm on an international flight and the alcohol is free, I definitely take advantage lol... If I have to sit there for 9 or 10 hours, alcohol at least makes the time go by faster..

[Lillie767]

Maybe trans con flights between CA and NY should also have cannabis available since it will relax the passengers and make the time go by more quickly?