The end of the pre-flight tipple? Drinking at UK airports could be banned under new proposals

A pre-flight tipple is a traditional part of any holiday for most Brits but new measures could be introduced that would put an end to the practice.

Following new regulations put in place by aviation minister Lord Ahmad last year, politicians have been discussing further actions to outlaw alcohol from UK airports entirely.

Currently the Licensing Act 2003 does not apply once travellers make it through customs, meaning its perfectly possible to enjoy a pint in the early hours of the morning before heading onto a plane.

However, due to a rising number of drunk passengers on flights causing disruption that has led to planes being diverted, the law may be changed.

Airline jet2.com revealed that they dealt with 536 disruptive incidents last summer alone, with over half of those as a direct result of alcohol, often from vast quantities drunk at the airport.

A survey by Alcohol Concern also found that nearly one in five passengers said they began their holiday drinking at the airport.

Sussex Police told MPs that some airport pubs were caught selling alcohol to people under 18 but no action could be taken due to airside pubs not falling under the Licensing Act.

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Now the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has told MPS that the Act must also be enforced at airports.

They wrote: “The ALMR believes that sales of alcohol airside at international airports should no longer be exempt from the application of the Act.

“The original exemption was only introduced because of practicalities relating to enforcement airside rather than any regulatory or policy concerns relating to its sale… with no licence for alcohol sales, other operators who do not have the experience and training in alcohol retailing eg. coffee shops and quick service restaurants are unregulated.”

The Government is now being urged to revoke certain sections of the Licensing Act 1964, which excludes airports designated as international airports from laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol outside permitted hours.

Airside establishments would therefore immediately be banned from serving alcohol until they reapply for a license, that would then be covered under the Licensing Act – putting the same limits on drinking past customs as at all parts of the airport.

Officials last year said the non-travelling public does not have access to the same areas as passengers and “therefore the risk of crime and disorder associated with the sale of alcohol is low”.

Top pic: Rex