Those pre-flight plans might be changing.
While nobody likes to see obnoxious, loud and messy drunks on a flight, some people enjoy having an alcoholic drink before their flight departs.
Perhaps you’re a nervous flyer and fancy ‘taking the edge off’ your commute? It’s also worth stating that every single person has experienced a flight delay/cancellation at some point. Surely you’ve spent some of that time waiting at the airport bar?
Whatever the reason is, we’re confident in saying that you’ve had a pre-flight drink before taking off, but the Government could be about to introduce a new policy which will change this habit.
As reported by The Independent, new proposals to limit the sale of alcohol at airports are being mulled over.
It’s stated that these new proposals are aimed at reducing the increasing levels of drunken behaviour on flights.
Under these proposed new rules, the Home Office is considering legislation that will force airport bars and pubs to abide by the licensing laws that exist for the majority of UK publicans.
Essentially, this proposed move would restrict the sale of alcohol to passengers just before they board flights, potentially putting an end to early-morning drinks for anyone that’s about to embark on a holiday.
This new legislation is being proposed after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) disclosed that there were 418 instances of disruptive behaviour by passengers on UK flights. That figure is nearly double the amount that was reported in the previous reserach.
The Government said that they would run a series of consultations during 2018 to seek advice on “limiting the impact of disruptive passengers”.
A statement reads: “With over 260 million passengers travelling through the UK airports annually, any disruptive passenger behaviour is entirely unacceptable and an issue that warrants further examination. While the number of disruptive events remains small compared to the total passenger numbers, the occurrences seem to be on the rise. The most serious instances can even evolve into a situation that causes a safety issue. Ensuring the safety of all passengers is a priority for the Government, and we are committed to maintaining a travelling environment that is both safe and enjoyable for all passengers.”
The Independent have also reported that a Home Office source is looking for evidence to assess the potential impact of implementing the Licensing Act on airport bars.
