You can bring your own alcohol to drink on the plane, you just can’t drink it unless a flight attendant serves it to you. Many airlines have a policy against their crew serving alcohol brought on board, though some do not. Cathay Pacific, for instance, will serve you wine that you bring on board.
During the pandemic, when airlines weren’t serving alcohol, passengers were bringing their own. You can’t bring much through airport security checkpoints – your total liquid limit is 100 milliliters – but in many airports there are plenty of places will sell alcohol to go.
This became a problem. There were more alcohol incidents when airlines didn’t serve alcohol than when they do – because passengers bringing their own aren’t limited in how much they’re served, either because a flight attendant refuses service to those already intoxicated or because they just don’t make second and third drink passes, retreating to the galley instead.
One passenger decided to take their alcohol supply needs into their own hands, not via the usual surreptitious method of pouring wine into a coffee cup (and occasionally blowing on it, to act like it’s hot coffee or tea) but with an open bucket. It’s not just Heinekens on offer though, they’re prepared with Coca Cola for anyone that prefers a soft drink as well.
That’s up there with this guys basket, that he brought on the plane, sitting next to me. pic.twitter.com/Y89LdZGni8
— Paulybhoy82 (@paulybhoy82) February 20, 2023
It’s not clear what flight this was, or when it happened, but passengers bringing alcohol isn’t uncommon. It happens every day, but less now that airlines are back to selling booze on board. (United flight attendants even want a sales commission as part of a new contract). It’s just doing this out in the open that’s so brazen and notable.
Sometimes though you can get a flight attendant to leave you the whole bottle of wine and then it’s bottle service at your seat.
I usually have a Ziploc of minis in my backpack. Downshift on when I’ve last restocked, it can be upward of 10-12 bottles. I rarely dip to my stash on a flight but definitely did during covid.
I typically use them when I get into a hotel for work and just want to make a cocktail in my room.
I’ve never been stopped by TSA before for it.
Not a problem, 10 people each carry 100 ml…the sort of situation TSA (naturally) did not consider. Spike it with some juice and this could be a nice friendly little party at the gate.
Egypt Air and the Royal Brunei will both serve alcohol if you bring. Of course, finding a suitable bottle of wine post-security can be a challenge at some of the airports they serve.
@Gary looks like BA intra-Europe biz class to me, and twitter OP is UK-based.
On my return from duty in Vietnam on a Braniff Charter flight the plane (707) stopped in Guam to refuel. Since we had to deplane I went into the post exchange and purchased to large bottles of Vodka. Upon returning to the plane and after take off I wandered through the plane picking up unopened cans of orange and tomato juice which were promptly added to the Vodka for our own happy hour. Sure made the return from the war zone a little more tolerable.
Nearly half of all Americans live in states with easy, legal access to some THC gummies. These people drinking on flights like it’s 1972…
Promote that Guy!! Seriously!
I absolutely hate drunk people. Call me a square or whatever, but they’re the worst. Stinky, loud, belligerent and flat out ridiculous. They belong in bars, not on my plane.
@Scudder exactly. The THC gummy people are the ones who have properly evolved.
Are people that desperate for a drug induced state?
You don’t have to be desperate. The legal states have stores for both alcohol and cannabis to purchase (separate stores). Rather fly with a stoned person any day over a drunk one. I question that many beverages getting on an aircraft by one person but it wouldn’t shock me if it happened.
That looks like British Airways, long haul, premium economy.
How can any liquids (supposedly) get past the TSA? Especially in 12oz cans! US carriers are not supposed to allow a passenger to drink alcohol brought aboard. US carriers (believe it or not) have a liquor license stowed aboard the aircraft along with registration, airworthiness certificate, and certificate of sanitary construction (for the galley). Apparently Nebraska requires a paper liquor license as I have seen that in the pouch with the other above mentioned documents! The airline has a specific exemption that allows them to serve alcohol across governmental boundaries.
@Scudder I totally agree. THC capsules are my go-to choice on every flight. Forget the booze.
I don’t think the liquid limit is everywhere. Gary will know if this was a fluke but flying domestically in Australia I forgot I had a full-size wine bottle in my carry-on and no one said a word at security.
@Tim Kelly – there are many places where the War on Water is not being waged.
Australia domestic flights don’t have ID or boarding pass checks at security. In Hong Kong there’s no liquids check at security, so U.S.-bound flights confiscate liquids at the gate, for isntance.
I was once on a flight from Singapore to Thailand, an hour long flight, and we were sitting in the 1st row. We knew there was only 1 pass of service so we ordered two beers each. The guy next to me politely asked for all of the rest of the beers on the plane. The stewardess, without hesitation, counted the beers in the drawer, pulled out a trash bag and dumped the beers in and handed them to the guy (after charging him). I was astonished and asked what was going on. He was the captain of the rugby team and the rest of the guys soon joined him around the front of the plane where they drank all the beers standing up around the cockpit. Nobody blinked an eye. We ended up partying with them that weekend after we landed. It was amazing.
The rugby team party sounds really fun! Best fight story I’ve ever heard!
It’s a Federal offense in the US to drink any alcohol you brought onboard – regardless what you can legally carry past the TSA. If the airline didn’t supply it, you can’t drink it. It’s actually mentioned in preflight announcements.This article is absolute irresponsible.
@Mae first this is not in the U.S., second the U.S. rule is that alcohol must be served to you by a flight attendant (even if it is alcohol you brought on board yourself)
This is while article is garbage. Look at what is in the basket. Its an assortment of beverages, including tea, coke, sprite, aspirin and (gasp!) 2 beers. That’s not exactly a party bin, ready to be consumed. Where’s the ice? And sure, he could have bought all those after the security at any kiosk, but so what? He could cleary ask the attendant if it was OK to open it, and they would say sure, but let me open. That’s all that happens. A bunch of folks getting their panties in a was here.
I got woken up by a flight attendant after they sold me a bottle of duty-free vodka on my trip back from Amsterdam I didn’t do a damn thing she just woke me up and she stole my vodka…. They didn’t tell me I couldn’t drink it but I’m not going to pay 7 to 14 dollars for a airplane bottle vodka….. Not everyone that drinks is belligerent or rude