Ryanair CEO Calls for Two-Drink Limit on Airport Alcohol Sales

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has reiterated his call for strict limitations on airport alcohol sales, proposing a cap of two drinks per passenger to combat rising incidents of disruptive behavior in the skies. Speaking in an interview with Sky News, O'Leary argued that excessive drinking before departure creates severe safety risks, noting that an average of one or two flights per week are diverted due to unruly passengers.

Under O'Leary's proposed measures, purchasing any alcoholic beverage at airport bars and restaurants would require presenting a boarding pass to track consumption. "We are not trying to stop everyone from drinking, but you need to show a boarding pass and it needs to be limited to two alcoholic drinks at any time of day," O'Leary stated, adding that after two drinks, passengers should switch to tea or coffee. He also called for a complete ban on traditional early-morning airport pints.

O'Leary criticized airport operators for failing to address the issue, accusing them of prioritizing profits from alcohol sales while leaving airlines and cabin crews to deal with the consequences. He pointed out that flight delays, such as those experienced during recent peak travel seasons, exacerbate the problem as passengers spend more time drinking in terminals.

The debate over air rage highlights several notable incidents. On April 26, passengers on a Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Ibiza turned the aircraft into an airborne party, dancing in the aisles and ignoring crew instructions. In another incident, a stag party on an easyJet flight forced a diversion after using electronic cigarettes and behaving abusively toward staff. Additionally, in August, a British Airways flight from Heathrow to San Diego was forced to deal with a passenger who reportedly vomited on nearby travelers, spat wine at them, and eventually lost consciousness.