Plain-Speaking Michael O'Leary Pushes for Airports to Limit Albooze Sales
Ryanair's bold leader, Michael O'Leary, has got his sights set on cutting down on the booze consumed at airports. In an interview with the Telegraph, O'Leary suggested limiting the number of drinks each passenger can buy before boarding to just two. This suggestion comes as a response to an alarming increase in violent incidents on planes this summer.
With almost weekly assaults reported, O'Leary recognizes that identifying intoxicated passengers can be tricky, especially if they're traveling in groups. As long as they walk and move, they're allowed to board. However, once the plane takes off, trouble often follows.
But O'Leary isn't advocating for a total ban on booze. Instead, he likens it to not letting someone drive after drinking, while still allowing them to fly at 33,000 feet.
Party-destination flights and the influence of drugs
We've seen our fair share of alcohol-fueled chaos on flights departing from the UK to popular party destinations, like Ibiza and various Greek islands. Take, for instance, the British tourist who was given a suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a flight attendant on a Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Mallorca. O'Leary attributes this rise in incidents to alcohol combined with drugs like cocaine. It's not just a UK issue, though; fights on flights from Ireland or Germany regularly make headlines.
Delays and airports serve as the perfect breeding ground for excessive drinking, according to O'Leary. That's why he suggests swapping out those pre-flight drinks for coffee or tea instead. This suggestion wouldn't dent airport bars' profits.
A call for stricter policies at airports
With Ryanair leading the charge, maybe it's time for airline companies to reevaluate their alcohol policies at airports. O'Leary's two-drink limit idea could help prevent disruptive behavior and alcohol-related incidents during flights.
Further reading:
Enrichment Insights:
- Ryanair has proposed measures like:
- Limiting alcoholic drinks to two per passenger at airports
- Using boarding passes to monitor and limit alcohol consumption
- Implementing detection of excessive drinking before boarding to ensure a sober and controlled flight experience, reducing incidents and improving passenger safety and comfort.
- A survey found that 62% of respondents support the two-drink limit at airports, indicating public backing for the initiative.
