Europe's largest airline wants to introduce a two-drink limit for passengers at airports

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, has called for restrictions on the sale of alcohol at European airports to minimize disruption caused by drunken passengers on board flights.

It called on the European Union to introduce a limit of two drinks per passenger at airports, imposing it on "the use of their boarding passes in the same way they limit duty-free sales." This is stated in a statement by a representative of the airline, CNN reports.

"When flights are delayed, passengers consume excessive amounts of alcohol at airports without any restrictions on purchase or consumption," the spokesperson added. "We cannot understand why passengers at airports are not limited to 2 alcoholic beverages... as this would lead to safer and better behavior of passengers on board the aircraft."

According to data released last year by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger violence on airplanes has increased in recent years. In 2023, there was one incident of uncontrollable passenger behavior for every 480 flights, compared to one for every 568 flights in 2022, the trade association said, without specifying how many of these incidents were alcohol-related.

Ryanair noted that it and other airlines "already restrict the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, especially in cases of passenger inconvenience."

In Ireland, it is forbidden to be in a state of intoxication on an airplane, as it can endanger passengers. This can lead to a fine of up to 500 pounds (600 USD) or, in extreme cases, up to four months in prison or a fine of 700 pounds (850 USD).

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