Ryanair believes the two-drink limit would mean better behaviour and a safer environment on board. Source: Ryanair.

[UPDATED] Low-cost carrier Ryanair has urged EU regulators to take action to limit alcohol sales at airports, as details emerge of a €15,000 civil claim against a passenger.

Imposing a two-drink limit per passenger ‘would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe’, argues the airline.

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports. Airlines, like Ryanair, already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, particularly in disruptive passenger cases.

“However, during flight delays, passengers are consuming excess alcohol at airports without any limit on purchase or consumption. We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.”

The airline has filed legal proceedings against a passenger to recover €15,350 in costs after an incident onboard a Dublin to Lanzarote flight on 9 April 2024 that resulted in the aircraft being diverted to Porto due to what Ryanair claims was disruptive behaviour.

The total bill is said to include €750 in lost inflight sales.

New restrictions ‘would penalise responsible behaviour’

“European governments repeatedly fail to take action when disruptive passengers threaten aircraft safety and force them to divert,” added the Ryanair spokesperson. “In this case, the Portuguese Prosecution ruled that because the aircraft and the passenger are Irish, this case should be transferred to Ireland.

“Ryanair is therefore taking a civil proceeding against this passenger in the Irish Courts to recover these costs, which were incurred wholly and exclusively as a result of the disruptive passenger’s behaviour, which caused not just a diversion, but an overnight in Porto of over 160 passengers and six crew member and the operating aircraft.”

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has previously called for a two-drink limit amid a rise in disorderly behaviour on flights.

Michael O’Leary, CEO, Ryanair. Source: Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis.

The duty free and travel retail industry has long played a key role in the cross-industry ‘One Too Many Campaign’, which relaunched last year and promotes the consequences of unruly behaviour at airports across the UK.

Nigel Keal, Chair of the UK Travel Retail Forum, told TRBusiness: “The vast majority of passengers enjoy their journeys without causing disruption and there are strict penalties in place in the rare incidents that do occur. Imposing new, blanket restrictions at airports would penalise those people consuming responsibly. Importantly, such a ban would also have no effect on passengers drinking alcohol onboard planes.

“Airside food and beverage outlets, as well as travel retail operators, follow a robust industry code of conduct. Staff are highly trained in responsible service policies and operate to rigorous standards to implement leading responsible host policies.

“UKTRF has taken a consistent and strong position to prevent disruptive behaviour of any kind when travelling. We are continuing to work cross-industry to identify and implement effective solutions through the One Too Many campaign, which has been recognised by the government as an example of industry best practice. The campaign is present in nearly every airport in the UK and we reiterate our open invitation to Ryanair and other airlines to join this collaborative effort, to ensure a safer and more enjoyable travel experience for all.”

An exemption to volumetric controls applying to liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) bought at airport retailers, on aircraft and carried by transfer passengers have been in place for a number of years provided they are carried in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) approved security tamper-evident bags (STEBs) and carry a proof of purchase.

UK travel retailers adhere strictly to the global standards regulated by ICAO, says UKTRF, to ensure ‘the safe, secure and efficient handling of items purchased in duty free’.

‘UKTRF recognises ICAO’s role in regulating this issue and continues to monitor developments to keep our members informed,’ it added.

This is an updated version of a story first published on Monday 13 January.