BBC Radio 2 presenters Vernon Kay and Jeremy Vine engaged in a heated live on-air debate over a controversial proposal by Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary to prohibit early-morning alcohol sales at airports. The discussion, which aired on Wednesday, saw the two presenters sharply divided on the issue.
O'Leary's Proposal Sparks Debate
Michael O'Leary recently suggested that airports should stop serving alcohol during early morning hours, citing that Ryanair is forced to divert at least one flight daily due to disruptive behaviour from intoxicated passengers. Unlike pubs and bars on the high street, airport bars are not bound by standard licensing restrictions or opening times. In an interview with The Times, O'Leary stated: "It's becoming a real challenge for all airlines. I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o'clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time? There should be no alcohol served at airports outside licensing hours." Currently, being drunk on an aircraft in the UK is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to £5,000.
Vernon vs. Jeremy: The Clash
Vernon Kay expressed support for O'Leary's idea, arguing that if passengers cannot drink responsibly, the availability of alcohol should be restricted. He said: "If people can't drink responsibly then remove the reason why they can't drink responsibly and just have normal drinking hours in an airport. Why is an airport different to anywhere else? Why can you get a pint at half four in the morning in an airport but not in a pub?"
Jeremy Vine, however, took the opposing view, suggesting that airports might have the right approach by allowing round-the-clock drinking. He countered: "Maybe the airport's got it right, maybe everything should be open all the time, but why would you punish the person who can drink two pints of lager without shouting 'Are you looking at my bird?' Why is that person getting punished?"
Vernon retorted: "Because you're on an aeroplane. I don't want some clown affecting the flight and you're going to end up in Italy somewhere because the clowns' got to get off."
Family Travel Concerns
Later in the programme, after a discussion on cochlear implants, Vernon returned to the topic, emphasising the impact on families travelling with children. He said: "I'm not being a Derek downer… it sounds like I am but when you've got families on planes, kids don't need to witness that kind of behaviour." Jeremy replied: "I think the trouble is you're then stopping people drinking one and a half pints which would be my kind of total maximum amount."
As Jeremy prepared to leave, the tension had eased, and Vernon cheerfully bid him farewell: "Thank you Jeremy have a great show. You can leave now with your 70s attitudes."
Broader Context: Jet2's Database Proposal
The debate comes in the wake of budget airline Jet2 proposing a UK-wide database that would enable airlines to share information and collaborate on banning disruptive passengers, aiming to curb unruly behaviour on flights.
