OK, so now that I've surrendered my nail file, removed my shoes, endured 45 minutes torture and interrogation because I have a one-way ticket,.......and taken a breathalyzer; may I now board the flight please? Ah screw it, I'll take the train! :) <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> :)

Perhaps we could drop the silly anti Blair backlash, which a minority of the population will indulge in whatever the merit of the subject, and discuss the real issue. Surely this has nothing to do with limiting individual freedom but to protect the majority of law abiding passengers from the minority who create an obnoxious disturbance. In addition I would have thought that the professionals on this forum would have something to say about the flight safety implications. Is this proposal a valid way to reduce the threat to the aircraft and passengers posed but a drunken passenger? Surley it's worth a discussion on it's merits rather than trivial party political snipes.

Nothing wrong with smoking on aircraft if the air conditioning system is designed and operated appropriately; i.e: No recirc, all packs running and smoking seats downstream of non-smoking and yes, some operators do shut off a/c packs in the cruise to save fuel!

Ref alcohol; why should the well behaved majority suffer for the doings of our yobs? I like to have an alcoholic drink when flying as a passenger and would be somewhat miffed to be told that I can't. How about hitting those who can't control themselves instead of those of us who can.

This sounds like a badly thought-out kneejerk reaction, a bit like the target pistol ban in the wake of the Dunblane shooting. As for Sleazy's comment; well, what do they know about premium lounges?

We put up with a great deal of hassle to fly these days, most of it security generated and I do not think we've done enough to discourage air piracy - witness the lenient British treatment of those involved in the Ariana hijack.

The thing about banning alcohol is that it is based on a a ludicrously unscientific notion, which is that there are no negative implications from not serving alcohol.

For example: what about the irritable passengers who are annoyed by their fellow cargoists, yet who can relax a bit with a drink? If we take away the booze, will the level of stress on the a/c increase or decrease? My *personal* view is that alcohol is used by a great many people as a stress management tool, which is why people who drink in moderation are (apparently, according to the NHS) healthier than those who don't, despite ingesting all that icky booze.

If alcohol is banned on flights, where does that leave the pax who are so scared of flying that they can't get on board an aircraft without their G&T or large whisky? Does this mean that they'll turn to drugs (prescription or non-prescription), which could conceivably be as much of a problem.. .Then of course, the pax who, as already mentioned, have a few too many in the bar because they know that they won't be able to drink on board. We all know that they aren't supposed to be allowed on board, but in reality, things aren't that simple. I was once asked if we would accept a drunk pax who was vomitting in the departure lounge. We said no, and later discovered that minutes later he passed out.. .There would also be problems in preventing alcohol getting on board. Duty/Tax free is readily available, and until a system is in place which prevents it being taken on board, and subsequently opened, people will get round it that way. Even then, there is always the temptation for people to bring alcohol from home, having first decanted it into something a little less obvious.. .Sorry - rant over now!. .Can you tell that I don't think this is a good idea as is stands? :) <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Bloody hell!, no booze on the aircraft, we would have to start buying our own for the room party. This is getting serious.

I wonder if this would be felt up the front of the aircraft. I for one would miss the bar on VS flights. Just brick up the walkway from Business to Economy - that would sort it. If someone causes trouble, give them more dink and more and more and more....

Eventually they will pass out.

I wonder when the wine list is replaced with a Carte d'eau

<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I cannot help thinking that shares in hip flash companies would be a good idea, or are alcohol detectors to be fitted to the toilets now ?

Anyone ever thought that the cabin crew are quite happy to work in a smoke free environment???. .Any way if alcohol is banned it will mean pax trying to sneak drinks and we will lose any control over the amount of drink served to pax.

The point being missed is that this proposed legislation would only apply to UK airlines.

If it happens, watch the pax start voting with their feet!

Bluelabel <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Agreed, Call_Belle; I've been appalled by the fug which can develop toward the rear galley when the NS sign goes off and after meal service. As I said, the a/c system has to be able to cope and many couldn't. . .Seem to recollect the TriStar wasn't too bad with all packs running, in fact GF used to provide free Havanas in first <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Aahh, the old days; when ole skip used to light up his last fag at the outer marker and drop ash all over his jacket as he wrestled the ship to the ground . . reminisce . . bore . . bore . . etc. . .

Sp!

[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

Fags? (not the SFO type <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> ) Please turn up the ventilation. I can manage a trans-pacific of 16 hours without one but I get "irritated" - some more serious "addicts", it has been shown, get violent.

I once boarded a Swissair flight out of US, having booked a smoking seat weeks before, to have a pax sit beside me and ask me not to smoke "because she din't like it" and it was the only seat available when she boarded (not having booked a non-smoking seat)

I have a friend who has a "system" involving a Coke can and a wet towel for having an un-detected smoke in the a/c loo on a long flight. You don't stop it, you just "drive it underground"!

Booze? I usually fly "a little bit happy" - especialy on a non-smoking long sector - but not totally p1ssed (right - that's not safe) partly as I'd rather sleep for a trans-atlantic when I can't have a fag for 8 hours! (can help to avoid "jet lag" time-zone problems as well)

Ban it and you will get the hooligans drinking out of mouthwash bottles from their carry-on bags. I've heard of pax on non-booze flights (I don't fly them <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> ) drilling small holes in Coke cans and lacing the Coke with booze before sealing them, just to get a drink on board!. .Banning is not the answer to problems - solving them is. Tony's done a lot of good that I never expected from the "enemy paty", but this is just plain stoopid and, like banning smoking, will not solve the problem bt just substitute another.

We're all grown-ups - and if we're not we should be told to take a bus <img src="mad.gif" border="0">