All your questions about boozing in the clouds are answered. Know everything about carrying and having alcohol on flights.
Can you bring alcohol, specifically liquor, on a plane?
- Yes! As per the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), travelers can bring alcohol or liquor.
- But only as long as the bottles are unopened and placed in a sealed bag. While alcohol can’t exceed 70 percent (140 proof) in checked luggage.
- The TSA doesn’t state a proof limit for carry on liquor.
- In general, be sure to check the laws of your destination. Some countries, like Kuwait, forbid passengers from entering the country with alcohol.
Can you buy duty-free alcohol and then bring it onboard the airplane?
- As of January 31st, 2014, TSA has allowed duty free alcohol to be transported in carry on luggage.
- This overruled previous TSA regulation, which said that duty free alcohol had to be packed in one’s checked baggage.
- So before you go merrily stuffing your bag with Beefeater Gin to enjoy on the flight. Remember you probably won’t be allowed to drink it.
- But you can bring it if you meet the following requirements:
- The duty-free liquids were purchased internationally and you are traveling to the United States with a connecting flight.
- The liquids are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer and do not show signs of tampering when presented to TSA for screening.
- The original receipt for the liquids is present and the purchase was made within 48 hours
Can you get drunk on a plane?
Yes or no?
- If there is technically no limit on how many drinks can be served to a passenger. Then flight attendants have the right to refuse alcohol to anyone they deem to be too drunk.
- And don’t think that your behavior can’t land you in cuffs.
- A BBC Panorama investigation reported more than 387 people were arrested for being drunk on a plane and also 250 from the previous year.
- Because cases of arrest often involve abuse of the cabin crew, some airlines are looking to take a stricter stance.
- Ryanair, for instance, is calling for a limit of two drinks per passenger. As well as urging airports to ban the sale of alcohol before 10 a.m.
Can you bring alcohol in a checked bag?
Yes!
- According to TSA, travelers may check up to five liters of alcohol. But only as long as the alcohol content is between 24 percent and 70 percent. And it’s packed in a sealable bottle or flask.
- If you’re traveling between European countries, the EU allows ten liters of spirits per checked bag.
- If you’re entering the EU from a non-EU country, you can bring in-
- four liters of still wine
- sixteen liters of beer
- one liter of spirits
- two liters of fortified or sparkling wine.
What is the drinking age on international flights?
- On most flights, the drinking age is consistent with the country in which the airline is registered.
- So if you’re flying the Icelandic discount airline WOW air, the drinking age would be 20. However, there are exceptions.
- Air Canada, for instance, allows the consumption of alcohol by minors if consent is provided by a parent or guardian accompanying them.
- This rule only applies to international flights.
Do international flights serve free alcohol?
- Most airlines won’t serve free alcohol during domestic flights (sans business-class passengers).
- However, the majority of airlines do serve complimentary booze on international flights.
Are You Allowed to Drink Your Own Alcohol on a Plane?
- It’s perfectly legal to bring alcohol onto airplanes according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). But only as long as the liquor is kept in containers.
- The container must also be of 3.4 ounces or less that can fit in one clear, zip-top, quart-sized bag.
- But wait!
- Perhaps you’ve spotted a loophole in that bit in the FAA rule about how the alcohol must be “served by the air carrier.”
REMEMBER
American, Delta, and Southwest all stipulate that alcohol brought onto planes by passengers must remain unopened, which makes drinking the contents pretty difficult.
Southwest eventually had to add a new line to the pre-flight announcement advising against the practice. Airlines’ penalties for scofflaws range from simply discarding the forbidden beverage to assessing fines.
A JetBlue customer on a December 2020 flight from New York to the Dominican Republic got slapped with a $14,500 fine for drinking his own alcohol and refusing to wear a mask.
Verify the guidelines of the airline you’re flying to know whether or not you can drink alcohol during your flight.
Also read: Mr EAT ALL i.e. Monsieur Mangetout ate an entire Cessna 150.
Also know: Is it safe to travel now even after having vaccines?
Stay tuned with us for more such interesting blogs and also other aviation updates. Have a cheerful day!
