40 minutes ago, dmwalker said:

There is always a way, whether it's surreptitiously in the darkness during a movie or using the privacy of a toilet.

 

In the US you are limited to 3.4 oz of liquid. in a quart sized clear container. UK is similar. 100 grams in the UK. You'd have trouble getting drunk on that. And as I'm sure you know, your carry on bags are searched before boarding. 

Edited March 29, 20233 yr by martin-w

17 minutes ago, martin-w said:

In the US you are limited to 3.4 oz of liquid. in a quart sized clear container. UK is similar. 100 grams in the UK. You'd have trouble getting drunk on that. And as I'm sure you know, your carry on bags are searched before boarding. 

I haven't flown since 2006 but I remember duty free goods were handed to you in a carrier bag as you boarded. If you wanted, you could buy more than the duty free allowance for your destination country and it was up to you to declare the extra and pay the duty.

The solution to prevent people from engaging in violent or dangerous behavior on airplanes is to punish the perpetrators.  Period.  Punishments would include fines, imprisonment, and banning them from flying, depending on the nature of the infraction.

I'm so tired of some folks who want to punish everybody in the name "making everyone safe" instead of punishing the actual wrongdoers and making an example of them.

Dave

3 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

Punishments would include fines, imprisonment, and banning them from flying, depending on the nature of the infraction.

Don't these all exist now? Would you make them more severe?

I really enjoyed having a few beers the last time I flew. But had there been no alcohol, the flight would have still been ok. I'm not against a ban, including in airports, but also not in favor, I can see both sides.

When I flew Air France and saw how much the couple sitting next to me were enjoying their first class meal with wine (in economy - you could pre order better meals), it somehow felt good. French culture. 

One thought is that say in the 1960's and 70's many people seem to me to have been sort of boozy, but I do believe there were fewer air rage type incidents, even per capita. I think it might be something else in addition to the booze. Of course people might have access to all sorts of medication nowadays. But I guess they had that in the past too. It feels like alcohol is only part of the problem, but I couldn't say what's really causing all these events.

But anyway, I wouldn't mind the ban so much, say if it reduced such cases by 50%. But there'd be no telling if it would work until one tried it. I think it'd have to apply to all classes of service. The explanation might be something like, we need all passengers to be alert and to be able to follow instructions in case of an emergency, rather than, you've all been very bad so no more drinks.

 

3 minutes ago, Antipodeslonghaul said:

It feels like alcohol is only part of the problem, but I couldn't say what's really causing all these events.

It's not just airline passengers. It seems to be a society-wide problem:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/mar/28/uk-theatre-staff-audience-behaviour-abuse-drunken-theatregoers

Yeah, it seems to be in many or most areas. Hospitals, restaurants, theatres, like the article shows. Strange.

2 hours ago, dmwalker said:

There is always a way, whether it's surreptitiously in the darkness during a movie or using the privacy of a toilet.

So I guess nothing can be done about the problem eh Dugald?  Why have rules and regulations or strengthening the ones we already have if there are ways around them?  Sneak whatever you want aboard an airplane because the safeguards can always be bypassed, disregarded, or blown off.

We have speed limit laws and if you are caught speeding you are written a citation and pay a fine.  But the traffic cops can't be everywhere at once and most speeders get away with it.  So why post speed limits if some people are going to speed anyway and not get caught?

The same with driving drunk.  Oh sure, some people will get caught and pay a heavy fine or even risk some jail time.  But so many get away with it.  They weave back and forth along the street between the tavern and home and a cop never sees. them.  So why hare the laws on the books if some people are able to evade them?

Everytime a suggestion is made here on the forum of ways to make flying safer for the public a few will come up with ways to evade the laws and regulations as if to say, "Some people will do it anyway so why strengthen the regulations or laws?"

Noel

 

 

Keep on topic, guys!  Let's not get into drunk driving, longer or shorter bar hours, etc!

14 minutes ago, birdguy said:

So I guess nothing can be done about the problem eh Dugald?

Well, maybe, instead of passengers receiving their duty free stuff as they get on the aircraft, they could receive it when they get off at the other end. How about that?

2 hours ago, dmwalker said:

I haven't flown since 2006

 

Times have changed. 2006 I recall, the fluid restrictions. You have to carry your little 100ml bottle of any liquid in a transparent bag measuring 20cm x 20cm along with toiletries, that sort of thing. Its presented when you go thorough security. You have to get your transparent bag out, shoes off an in the box, belt off and in the box, then its scanned. Shoes not always now. 

Edited March 29, 20233 yr by martin-w

1 hour ago, dave2013 said:

instead of punishing the actual wrongdoers

Punishments would include fines, imprisonment, and banning them from flying, depending on the nature of the infraction.

 

Err.... that's what they already do. Its not working. 

 

3 minutes ago, martin-w said:

Times have changed. 2006 I recall, the fluid restrictions. You have to carry your little 100ml bottle of any fluid in a transparent bag of a particular size, along with toiletries, that sort of thing. 

I realise that but that applies to items you are hand-carrying through security. You don't get to touch your duty free until you are entering the jetway to the aircraft or actually entering the aircraft itself. I can't remember which.

1 hour ago, Antipodeslonghaul said:

I think it might be something else in addition to the booze

 

Mostly booze. Alcohol is cheap and easily available. Many young people seem to think its cool to get drunk and do stupid things these days, hence the infamous groups of British youths who end up in places like Spain causing mayhem. Many young Brits admit that the first time they got drunk was in Spain on holiday. 

6 minutes ago, dmwalker said:

I realise that but that applies to items you are hand-carrying through security. You don't get to touch your duty free until you are entering the jetway to the aircraft or actually entering the aircraft itself. I can't remember which.

 

I've never seen that. 

Wine and hard alcohol is not allowed in your carry on luggage. You have to check in booze, it goes in the hold. 

Edited March 29, 20233 yr by martin-w