The head of Ryanair mandates liquor consumption for travelers.
To address the escalating issues of disorderly behavior and disturbances on flights, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is advocating for a cap on the number of alcoholic beverages sold at airports before boarding. He suggests that each passenger can purchase a maximum of two drinks using their boarding pass. This measure stems from the escalating frequency of violent incidents this summer, with nearly weekly occurrences.
O'Leary acknowledges that spotting intoxicated passengers at the gate can be challenging, especially if they are in groups of two or three. As long as they can walk and move, they are allowed to board. However, it's once the plane takes off that the problems tend to surface.
He's not proposing a complete ban on alcohol, but he questions why we would allow someone to fly drunk at 33,000 feet, despite banning driving under the influence.
alcohol-fueled incidents on party destinations flights
There have been numerous instances of alcohol-induced misbehavior on flights departing from the UK for popular party destinations like Ibiza and certain Greek islands. In July, a British traveler faced a suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a flight attendant during a Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Mallorca.
The hike in such incidents can be attributed to the blend of alcohol and substances like "tablets and powders," as per O'Leary, referring to drugs like cocaine. However, the problem isn't exclusive to flights departing from the UK or Ireland; it's also prevalent on flights from Germany. The most challenging days are the ones marked by numerous delays. "People tend to consume more alcohol at airports when there are delays. It would be more beneficial to utilize the waiting time with coffee or tea," O'Leary suggests. He assures that his proposal would not affect the revenue of airport bars.
The escalating alcohol-fueled incidents on party destinations flights, like those from the UK to Ibiza and certain Greek islands, have led O'Leary to question the current lax policies. He believes that capping the number of alcoholic beverages sold at airports could help mitigate the problems on flights, as seen in the numerous instances of misbehavior and disruptive incidents.
