Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has called for a strict limit of two alcoholic drinks per passenger at airports, arguing that the measure is needed to curb disruptive behaviour and stop what he described as "idiots" ruining flights for other travellers.
Under the proposal, passengers would have to show their boarding passes at airport bars to prevent them from being served a third drink, regardless of the time of day.
Boarding pass rule proposed
Speaking to Sky News host Sophy Ridge on Monday, O'Leary said the limit would not stop everyone from drinking but would cap consumption before boarding. He said: "I think it should be limited to two. We're not trying to block everybody from drinking but you should show your boarding pass and that should limit you to two alcoholic drinks at whatever time of the day it is. And after two, have a cup of tea, have a cup of coffee."
O'Leary linked airport drinking to a growing problem of disruptive behaviour on flights, particularly when passengers face long waits caused by delays. He said: "We should limit people to two alcoholic drinks at an airport, that's enough. When you have flight delays as we had during the summer, people are drinking too much at the airports. The airports don't care, they're happy to sell you the drink because they know then they'll pass the problem on to the airlines."
Rising misbehaviour and diversions
The Ryanair boss said airlines are facing serious challenges from a rise in passenger misbehaviour on board aircraft, which he attributed to a combination of alcohol and drugs. He said: "We have real problems, all of the airlines are facing real challenges with a dramatic growth in misbehaviour in passengers on board aircraft - a combination of alcohol and drugs I'm sorry to say - and they expect the airlines to police it." He added: "It's too late once they're up in the air."
O'Leary also said Ryanair has been forced to divert on average about one or two aircraft a week this year, amounting to roughly 100 diversions. He said: "Think of the number of passengers whose holidays and travel plans have been disrupted because some idiot can't control themselves or won't behave properly."
Call for stricter enforcement
O'Leary dismissed the idea that airlines should simply identify intoxicated passengers at the boarding gate, noting that it is not always easy to recognise someone who has been drinking unless they are visibly unsteady. He also criticised the response from authorities and urged them to do more.
The Ryanair CEO said: "It is not acceptable that we tolerate this misbehaviour and the authorities will not take any action. I divert an aircraft to an airport and the local police just want him or her back on the aircraft and send them back to the UK again." He added: "We need to be much more serious about this safety and we need to tackle this - limit the drinks at airports. It's a sensible thing to do. My view is two will do."
Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offence and can be punished by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment.
