How many times did I make my way airside to the aircraft at 5, 6 or 7 in the morning to be confronted with passengers in bars getting tanked up before their flights ?
How many times did handling agents try and get drunken pax onto the aircraft thus moving their problem on ?
How many times were my crew verbally and occasionally physically intimidated by inebriated customers both male and female ?
How many times did I call for the Police to remove such idiots from the aeroplane either before departure or after arrival ?
The answer to all the above is many, many times.
It is a problem throughout an industry which encourages the sale of alcohol before and during flight.