But in a press release relayed by The Guardian, Ryanair also calls for legislation limiting travelers to two alcoholic drinks at airports.
“We do not understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks, using their boarding pass in exactly the same way as duty-free sales are limited.indicates Ryanair. During flight delays, passengers consume excess alcohol at airports with no limits on purchase or consumption.”
A difficult measure to implement
Is this yet another communication stunt of which Michael O’Leary, the emblematic boss of Ryanair, has the secret? On the Charleroi airport side, we recognize that problematic behavior exists. “Unfortunately, passengers sometimes board planes drunk, recalls Nathalie Pierard, spokesperson for Brussels South Charleroi Airport. But did these passengers drink too much at the airport or did they already arrive in this state? And generally speaking, if they are not aggressive or if they do not pose a danger to other passengers, there is no rule preventing people who have been drinking from boarding.
Limiting consumption to two drinks would, according to BSCA, be complicated. . “People would always manage to use the quotas of other travelers who do not drink. Without forgetting that some sometimes spend several hours in the boarding zonecontinues Nathalie Pierard. Such a rule therefore seems difficult to put in place. And do we have the right to control passengers’ alcohol consumption?” Note that on the side of Brussels Airlines, we do not share the opinion of the Irish low-cost giant either. “We do not see any specific problems or developments related to excessive alcohol consumption.”
Who can refuse access on board?
Please note: a passenger with problematic behavior, whether he or she has been drinking or not, may be prohibited from boarding. “Employees at the check-in counter or at boarding can sometimes notice that there is a behavioral problem with a passengerexplains Nathalie Pierard, spokesperson for BSCA. The officer then calls a supervisor who can, if necessary, ask the police to intervene. The latter can refer the matter to the captain of the flight. It is he who will decide whether to accept it or not. Furthermore, in the event of assault and battery or another offense, the police officer can also decide directly that the passenger will not board.”
