TUI Airways is implementing a significant change to its inflight alcohol policy for economy passengers on long-haul flights, effective November 1. Currently, economy passengers receive up to three free alcoholic drinks on long-haul journeys. Under the new policy, complimentary soft drinks will continue throughout the flight, and a complimentary beer or wine will be served with the main meal. However, passengers will now have to pay for any additional alcoholic beverages.
Refunds for Existing Bookings
Adults with existing bookings affected by the change will receive a £12.50 refund per flight, each way. The premium cabin experience remains unchanged, with no alterations to the complimentary alcohol service for business or first-class passengers.
Mixed Reactions from Passengers
The announcement has elicited a range of responses from passengers. Some have expressed support for the change, citing concerns about disruptive behavior. One TikTok user commented: "Good, I am glad. I sat on a 10-hour flight to Mexico last year, a wedding group of about 20 adults were absolutely p***ed before even getting on. TUI still served them for about 7 hours. I was fuming. It was like a flight to Ibiza with 18-year-olds." Another user added: "All alcohol should be banned from airports and aeroplanes, it causes too much trouble."
Conversely, some passengers reacted with frustration. One TikTok user wrote: "TUI are dead to me." Another stated: "It shouldn't have to be a blanket ban for everyone. People just need to have more control. Many just enjoy one or two drinks, and I don't see an issue with that." A third lamented: "Sadly, some people ruin it for everyone else."
Industry-Wide Trend
TUI is not alone in tightening alcohol restrictions. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told The Times earlier this year that airports should ban serving alcohol to passengers before early flights to reduce disruption. A Ryanair spokesperson later told Metro: "The problem is not drinking on board one-hour flights; the excessive drinking occurs in airport terminals where no limits are placed on alcohol consumption, especially during flight delays. Ryanair has several processes in place to manage disruptive passengers onboard, including crew’s discretion to limit the number of drinks permitted to be purchased inflight." In June 2025, Ryanair introduced a €500 fine for disruptive passengers.
Rising Incidents of Disruptive Behavior
Intoxicated passengers are a common cause of bad behavior on aircraft. According to official Civil Aviation Authority statistics, in 2019 there were 390 occasions when airlines reported "difficulty in controlling intoxicated, violent or unruly passengers." By 2023, that number had risen to 1,245 incidents, and in 2024 it remained over 1,000. Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offense, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment.
