The boss of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, has described Ryanair's proposal to ban alcohol sales at airports before early flights as an "overreaction" that would be "extraordinarily difficult to implement". The call from Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary came after the airline reported a sharp rise in disruptive passenger behaviour on board, with diversions now averaging nearly one per day, up from one per week a decade ago.
Passengers at Stansted Airport's Wetherspoon pub on Thursday morning defended the tradition of a pre-flight drink, describing it as a "holiday ritual". Dee Wood, 60, and her friend Rachel Almond, 59, were enjoying a pint before their flight to Alicante. "We don't get drunk, we just have a pint, say cheers and off we go," said Almond. Michelle Webb opted for a glass of wine, adding that the drink marked the start of the holiday.
Cerys Parnell, 24, was drinking a pint of Corona before her flight to San Sebastián. She described the pre-flight drink as a "sense of freedom and venturing out of your normal routine" and doubted O'Leary's proposal was serious. "I don't see any harm in having a single pint," she said. "It's not really timing, it's more the amount." Other passengers, such as Alisha Philip and Sean Ryan, chose non-alcoholic drinks but said they had no objection to others enjoying a morning pint, calling it "part of the culture in England".
