A brawl on a Ryanair flight has led some passengers to demand a ban on alcohol on board the plane.
Striking footage of a drunken brawl between three passengers on board a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife has prompted commentators to call for a ban on alcohol on planes, DailyMail reports. Passengers said they spent an unpleasant hour on a flight to a Spanish island following a fight that started when two men argued in the aisle. Passenger Hannah McDonald, who filmed the fight, said it involved two brothers and one of their friends who were drinking continuously throughout the flight.
“It’s time to ban alcohol at airports”, “There should be a breathalyzer at the entrance with the maximum blood alcohol level allowed. Too many people go straight to the bar as soon as they arrive at the airport and drink pints”, “Don’t sell alcohol in airports or on flights”, “Of course, punish the millions who can restrain themselves, because a few fools cannot”, “I think just ban such idiots from flying forever. This is unfair to those who want to relax with one drink before departure,” they wrote commentators.
A travel expert noted that bans only encourage riskier behavior, such as drinking in toilets. The expert concluded that this would only make it more difficult for flight attendants and authorities to control alcohol consumption. Instead, he called for harsher penalties:
“Current penalties for violators are ineffective. Drinks should be served as freely as before, but violators should receive more severe punishment,” the expert said.