Placing duty free alcohol in Sealed Tamper Evident Bags (STEBs) will not stop drunk and disorderly behaviour on flights, according to the UK Travel Retail Forum (UKTRF).

Airports believe that selling alcohol in STEBs, which would prohibit consumption before boarding, would limit disruptions.

According to a recently published UK Department of Transport Consultation paper, airlines and airports are working together to address the issue of disruptive passengers and excessive alcohol consumption.

Various measures are already believed to be in place such as confiscating duty free alcohol during the flight.

FUNCTION OF THE STEB

UKTRF Chair Sarah Branquinho said: “STEBs were introduced as a security measure with the specific purpose of facilitating transfer passengers purchasing duty free liquids.

“UKTRF does not think that putting duty free alcohol in Sealed Tamper Evident Bags will make any difference whatsoever to this UK societal problem.”

Branquinho does, however, say that the UKTRF and other aviation stakeholders are working with the Department of Transport on combatting disruptive behaviour.

She added: “Our goal is simple – to ensure that a small minority of travellers do not spoil the travel experience for everyone else. A Code of Practice was initiated and signed by UKTRF and other industry stakeholders in late 2016. We are now seeking to strengthen the Code and making concrete proposals to do so.”

The UTRF is pursuing a number of other measures, including a collaborative approach taken by all airport stakeholders to deal with problem passengers.

Branquinho said: “Airlines, ground handling agents, F&B operators, duty free retailers, airport police and airport management need to work together to identify problems at an early stage and deal with them effectively.

“There are now many examples of how UK airport stakeholders working together can quickly reduce the number and seriousness of incidents.”

LEGAL PUNISHMENTS

Branquinho says the UKTRF is also looking to see more stringent legal punishments for offenders.

“Disruptive and violent behaviour in the air is a serious crime which could put lives at risk,” she said. “The punishment for offenders should reflect that.”

Greater information sharing among airlines on problem passengers and the creation of a shared ‘blacklist’ is also required, she stresses.

This is in addition to a UK-wide PR/information campaign on the dangers of disruptive behaviour when travelling by air, which would include clear warnings at strategic points throughout airports.

She concluded: “The Department for Transport will be gathering evidence on this issue in the coming months and we look forward to participating in that process.”