Brits on holiday—sun, sea, and… spirits? For many, a pre-flight drink at the airport is part of the tradition. But now, that routine may be facing turbulence.
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Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, is calling time on heavy drinking at airports. His concern? A rising tide of anti-social behaviour on flights fuelled by excessive alcohol consumption before boarding.
With more incidents of in-flight disorder, O’Leary suggests airports implement stricter alcohol limits. His proposal? A maximum of two drinks per passenger before boarding.
“It’s not that easy for airlines to identify who’s had one too many, especially when they board with others. As long as they can stand up and shuffle through the gate, they make it onto the plane. But once we’re airborne, the misbehaviour starts.”
The comparison O’Leary makes is hard to ignore—“We don’t allow drink-driving, yet we keep putting people up in aircraft at 33,000 feet,” he argues.
Spain, a top destination for British holidaymakers, is often the setting for these rowdy scenes.
Tourists in some Spanish resorts who’ve made all-inclusive reservations have already been limited to a maximum of six alcoholic beverages per day.
And with flights full of party-seeking passengers, the issue of pre-flight drinking has escalated.
Could limiting drinks to two per person solve the problem? While some travellers may begrudge the idea, for others, it’s a step toward safer skies.

This follows a ban by Ryanair last year on travellers consuming the alcohol they purchased from duty-free on board. It was already prohibited for passengers to consume personal alcohol on flights, but Ryanair implemented additional measures in 2023, publishing the following message to everyone buying a ticket:
“In order to prioritise the comfort and safety of all passengers, Ryanair will implement the following restrictions on your upcoming flight to Spain:
Customers will not be allowed to carry alcohol on board and all cabin luggage will be searched at the boarding gates. Any alcohol purchased in airport shops or elsewhere must be packed carefully in a suitable item of cabin baggage, which will be tagged at the gate and then placed in the aircraft hold free of charge if you have purchased priority boarding or have a small piece of hand luggage.”
Any passengers who’ve bought wine, beer or spirits have their purchases stored in the hold to be retrieved when they reach Spain. Anyone hiding alcohol and trying to bring it on board face being stopped from boarding and removed from the flight without a refund.
O’Leary insists that Ryanair doesn’t want to spoil anyone’s fun. But a safe, enjoyable flight is a priority for everyone on board.
With talks of an alcohol crackdown in the air, will British airports take heed of O’Leary’s call? Or will boozy Brits continue to face turbulence even before they take off? One thing’s for sure—the debate on pre-flight drinking is far from over.
Fly safe, fly smart—maybe with one less drink in hand.
Stay tuned for more updates on air travel rules and how they might affect your next holiday.
Article by Skatz
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