Could planes be alcohol-free in the future?

Could planes be alcohol-free in the future?

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Alcohol on planes could be a thing of the past if travellers continue to get drunk before boarding. A rise in antisocial behaviour on flights means regular disruptions, at a cost to the travellers and the industry. Places like Ibiza are trying to get alcohol banned on flights due to the lewd behaviour it causes and the danger it presents to other passengers. Whilst many might think it is a bit of an extreme change, the few people who take it too far could push the change into place. One in five Britons would actually support a ban on alcohol sales, both on a plane and in the airport. The survey by sunshine.co.uk asked over 3,000 people who drank about their experience of alcohol in airports. It found that 55 per cent felt it "would reduce drunken behaviour on flights”, which could be the main reason it is brought into place. A further 28 per cent admitted they had witnessed “alcohol-fuelled incidents” when flying. However, with 63 per cent stating they had also been drunk at an airport, many may not agree with a ban. A further nine per cent admitted to being confronted by airline staff due to their own intoxicated behaviour on a plane. Yet whilst this shows that it could become more of a problem, what with it delaying flights and costing money, it could be a tricky change especially for long haul flights and business class. Chris Clarkson, Managing Director of sunshine.co.uk, doesn’t think it would make a big enough difference. He stated: “They could just drink heavily before entering the airport and you'd no doubt get more people trying to smuggle alcohol through security.” Airlines are permitted to prevent people from boarding if they are too drunk, yet many still manage to get onboard before causing problems. Two passengers were recently removed from an EasyJet due to being intoxicated. They were filmed being abusive to staff and other passengers. However, they also caused the plane to be diverted from its journey to Turkey, making an emergency landing at London Stansted. It is just one situation among many that could lead to alcohol on planes being a thing of the past.

Alcohol on planes could be a thing of the past if travellers continue to get drunk before boarding. A rise in antisocial behaviour on flights means regular disruptions, at a cost to the


travellers and the industry. Places like Ibiza are trying to get alcohol banned on flights due to the lewd behaviour it causes and the danger it presents to other passengers. Whilst many


might think it is a bit of an extreme change, the few people who take it too far could push the change into place. One in five Britons would actually support a ban on alcohol sales, both on


a plane and in the airport. The survey by sunshine.co.uk asked over 3,000 people who drank about their experience of alcohol in airports. It found that 55 per cent felt it "would reduce


drunken behaviour on flights”, which could be the main reason it is brought into place. A further 28 per cent admitted they had witnessed “alcohol-fuelled incidents” when flying. However,


with 63 per cent stating they had also been drunk at an airport, many may not agree with a ban. A further nine per cent admitted to being confronted by airline staff due to their own


intoxicated behaviour on a plane. Yet whilst this shows that it could become more of a problem, what with it delaying flights and costing money, it could be a tricky change especially for


long haul flights and business class. Chris Clarkson, Managing Director of sunshine.co.uk, doesn’t think it would make a big enough difference. He stated: “They could just drink heavily


before entering the airport and you'd no doubt get more people trying to smuggle alcohol through security.” Airlines are permitted to prevent people from boarding if they are too drunk,


yet many still manage to get onboard before causing problems. Two passengers were recently removed from an EasyJet due to being intoxicated. They were filmed being abusive to staff and


other passengers. However, they also caused the plane to be diverted from its journey to Turkey, making an emergency landing at London Stansted. It is just one situation among many that


could lead to alcohol on planes being a thing of the past.