Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief, has raised alarms about the increasing number of violent incidents on flights, linking some of these occurrences to excessive drinking in airports.

Identifying inebriated passengers at boarding is particularly difficult, especially when they are traveling in groups.

To address this issue, O'Leary proposed that travelers should be limited to purchasing a maximum of two drinks per boarding pass before boarding their flights.

In response, Sir Tim Martin, owner of Wetherspoons, defended the current airport drinking practices, stating that his pubs have not received complaints about drunkenness affecting airport operations.

Martin emphasized that there have been no complaints from airport authorities or airlines regarding Wetherspoon pubs in recent years.

This discussion comes on the heels of a recent incident where a British holidaymaker was convicted for sexually assaulting a flight attendant on a Ryanair flight, highlighting the serious nature of in-flight disturbances.

O'Leary argued that while he does not wish to impose a complete ban on alcohol, safety measures akin to those for driving under the influence should apply to flying.

He noted that long delays at airports often lead to excessive drinking among travelers, suggesting that they might consider non-alcoholic beverages like coffee or tea instead.

Flight delays contribute significantly to the issue, as passengers tend to consume more alcohol while waiting.

AirportsUK has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe travel experience, stating that disruptive behavior is unacceptable.

O'Leary pointed out that current regulations allow passengers to board flights as long as they can stand, regardless of their intoxication level.

He compared this situation to driving under the influence, arguing that while drunk driving is prohibited, intoxicated individuals are often allowed to board planes.