By Michelle Embleton • Updated: 21 Jun 2023 • 11:13
RYANAIR’S recent ban on passengers bringing alcohol on board its aircraft for UK to Spanish destinations has stirred up a heated discussion. Euro Weekly News online reporter, Chris King, has been covering contentious issue that has garnered attention over the past few days.
According to reports, passengers were notified via email that carrying alcohol on board was prohibited, and any alcoholic beverages purchased at the airport would be stored in the baggage hold. This move has raised questions about when alcohol consumption becomes problematic during flights, especially as many travellers embark on UK to Spanish routes for leisurely and relaxing holidays.
In light of these developments, it is worth examining the permitted items on board, as outlined in Ryanair’s online help centre. It states, “Your duty-free bag is permitted in the cabin along with your cabin bags.” Additional guidance regarding behaviour on board can be found in Ryanair’s general terms and conditions of carriage, including information about the consequences of non-compliance with crew instructions regarding alcohol use.
Euro Weekly News received an overwhelming influx of comments and feedback from readers on its website and Facebook page. John McLean, one of the online commenters, pointed out, “They wouldn’t have so much trouble if they stopped the drunks from getting on the aircraft at the gate in the first place.”
Dave Moores added, “There is nothing new about this but Ryanair do not check! They also allow passengers who are clearly drunk to board the aircraft, pushing the problem on to the flight attendants who also do nothing.”
The debate further intensified on Facebook, with Ben Brady stating, “Nothing has changed they’ll still buy alcohol on board,” while Michael Stanton agreed, highlighting Ryanair’s profit potential from in-flight purchases. Social media feedback also included positive responses, with Susan Stewart expressing, “It’s about time,” and Hans Albert commenting, “Not everyone wants to fly with drunken lads.”
Join the ongoing discussion on Facebook or share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Michelle has lived on the Costa del Sol since 2004 with her mixed-nationality family and mixed-breed dog. Originally a biochemist from Nottingham, England, she has been translating, writing and teaching in Spain for nearly 20 years. She can often be found out in the mountains, running or cycling, or on the beach with a good book.
How dreadful that the English have to be controlled. Makes me ashamed of my country.
I totally agree with you, I avoid admitting Im English, the only people with anti social behaviour that I see are from drunken English people who come to Spain with the intention of getting as drunks as possible
First of all, I think it is about time that something was done to control anti-social behaviour on flights, and preventing people guzzling bottles of wine and spirits during a flight will help a lot, especially as the vast majority can’t afford to drink even half a bottle’s worth of strong spirits due to the cost of any kind of beverage charged by air travel companies. Secondly, it’s not just the British that lose control after drinking too much alcohol, far from it. A flight had to be diverted for an emergency landing after a bunch of ‘northern Europeans’ had an almighty scrap during their flight. Further more, while it wasn’t on an aeroplane, a train had to execute an emergency stop, when a group of drunken Irish people completely terrorised staff and passengers on a train in the south of Spain. They called for police support and the group of trouble-makers were fined thousands of Euros. Cast your minds back to last year in Madrid, possibly on Saint Patric’s Day, when drunken celebrants rioted, destroying bars and furniture. I remember the case of a drunken woman trying to open the emergency door during a flight too, when she was sodden with alcohol – she was also prosecuted and fined… People urinating themselves, others committing sexual assaults of varying degrees, or intimidating fellow passengers and crew is completely unacceptable, yet so many people blame their drunken state for these actions. It is incredibly dangerous to be drunk and out of control in any moving vehicle, but inside an aeroplane? If people can’t control their alcohol intake, immediately before and during the flight, then it is about time someone with authority to do so, did!
UK Airport bars and restaurants are more than happy to provide any amount of alcohol to passengers including bunches of lads and ladettes intent on getting blasted before getting on a plane. Do you think the Airport Authorities and concessions will stop this incredibly profitable supply to passengers that are about to leave thereby handing over the problem to airlines ?….. not an ice cubes chance in hell !!
Stop alcohol in airports, duty free should be at the destination airport.
I have traveled often to many destinations in the world and never once seen drunken or anti social behaviour from any other nationalities other than English animals, Some English people seem to think it’s their right to do whatever they wish without a thought for others, if challenged then you run the risk of verbal abuse, violence and these days run the risk of being fashionably “knifed”
I live in Spain and at times I’m ashamed to admit that I’m English! A month ago I needed a operation and the first question was do you drink every day? I asked if they asked other nationalities and they said no just Brits!!
After travelling back and forth to Spain over 100 times in the past 12 years, I would say that about 50% of the flights have been ruined by drunkards causing noise, mess and threatening behaviour. Can’t blame Ryanair, except when they make the situation worse by serving them drink whilst clearly already drunk. The problem starts in the airport where you see them drinking from the early hours. Some are drunk before they board the plane. More than once the plane started to taxi, only to return to the terminal and the police to board, removing the offending person(s). Should we really have to put up with this rowdy behaviour?
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