Passengers 'banned from drinking alcohol bought in duty-free' on flights

UK air passengers have been banned from drinking booze purchased in duty-free on flights because of a rise in alcohol-fuelled incidents in the air, it has been reported.

World Duty Free, the main duty-free outlet in most UK airports, will now require all alcohol bought in duty-free to be placed into sealed bags to stop passengers drinking it until after they land.

In a move encouraged by airports, alcohol will be placed into sealed bags which would have to be opened with scissors or knives, items banned from hand luggage.

The Times reports the bags – to be used for all forms of beer, wine and spirits bought in duty-free - will read: “Do not open alcohol purchases until your final destination.”

Opening bottles on flights is already against many airlines' rules.

A World Duty Free spokeswoman told The Times that it voluntarily took the steps of introducing the bags for all alcohol purchases.

She said: "The industry is working together to tackle this problem and make disruptive behaviour such as this socially unacceptable.

"The vast majority of our customers understand that the alcohol we sell can only be consumed when they reach their destination, and this message is already clearly conveyed at tills, on receipts and on bags.”

Figures recently revealed that hundreds of passengers have been arrested on suspicion of being drunk on a plane or at an airport over the last two years.

At least 273 people were held in 2017 and 2018, according to police statistics.

Cases include a drunk passenger accused of fighting with a fellow passenger on board a plane, and a man allegedly shouting and swearing at a pilot.

Civil Aviation Authority figures revealed that 422 serious incidents were reported in 2017, the joint-highest number on record.