This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
Home Office considers banning 24-hour boozing in British airports
Airports bars in Britain could be subject to a crack down on opening hours, following a 50% increase in drunken flyers last year.
The Home Office could look to impose normal UK licensing laws on airports within the next few weeks
It used to be a given that drinking at airports was legal at all times of the day, but that could be about to change.
The Home Office could look to impose normal UK licensing laws on airports within the next few weeks following the recommendations of a House of Lords report in December, the BBC reported on Saturday.
A Panorama investigation last year found there had been a 50% increase in the arrest of drunken flyers. 387 people were arrested for drunken behavior between February 2016 and February 2017, up from 255 the previous year.
Ryanair have already recommended a two-drink limit per boarding pass and banning the sale of alcohol before 10am in a bid to curb disruptive behaviour on flights.
Last year calls for change came alongside a number of cases of high profile air rage. In August a group of intoxicated Ibiza-bound Brits brawled with police after an emergency stop in Bordeaux. In October, British flier Bridget Hanley faced 20 days in a Canadian jail after drunkenly attacking another passenger.
The Home Office look to impose normal UK licensing laws at airports. Now, what does that really mean? It won’t necessarily result in alcohol not being sold at night or early in the morning. As it stands, premises situated before security (landside) must apply for a licence to sell alcohol, just like any other premises in the UK. Now check the 24 Hour Alcohol website https://www.24houralcohol.co.uk which contains details of retail premises and drink delivery services licensed to sell alcohol 24 hours and you’ll quickly notice that it’s common for landside shops at airports to sell booze all night. As these landside shops are all ready licensed to sell alcohol 24 hours, this new airside ban is meaningless as all ready alcohol can be bought 24/7 from licensed premises at airports.