Alpha Leader writes to Paper Tiger: Can you explain why violating a no-smoking ban should be treated any differently from violating no-drinking ban?
The obvious difference is that smoking (tobacco) is mildly stimulating but does not adversely affect judgement or coordination, whereas drinking alcohol does slow reflexes, increase impulsiveness, and alter judgement -- probably all bad things in the cockpit. They will both kill you, but - according to poet Ogden Nash : ' liquor is quicker'.
Social and cultural perspectives vary greatly about alcohol. I remember a time and place when folks would fly into a nice little grass strip to have a beer or two and watch other folks doing the same. Of course, we were flying piper cubs and the like, and there wasn't anything important to hit, except the cows in the middle of the strip.
As livers grow older and planes grow faster, alcohol has more effect. Add to that a lack of sleep, no food, dehydration, hypoxia, darkness and exhaustion, and you have a much worse result with demon rum than you would without.
That's it, plain and simple.