This Morning posed a question on Friday that has been asked by many over the years: should alcohol be banned from flights?
The discussion was sparked after a British woman was jailed for 20 days in Canada after drunken behaviour on a flight from Manchester to Mexico forced the pilot to divert 2,000 miles away.
Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were joined on the sofa (as always) by two people on different sides of the fence.
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Martin Townsend was pro banning boozing on flights.
“There have been 387 arrests on flights in a year which I think is far too many,” he said.
“I think it’s time to call time on alcohol on flights and in airports. It’s the cause of the arrests, disruptive behaviour and other things like cabin crew being assaulted. It’s all fuelled by alcohol and I don’t see the point.”
Ruth, however, asked if that was not punishing the many for the actions of the few, saying she enjoys a drink on flights herself.
Fellow guest Sonia Poulton agreed, saying: “Look at the figures in context. From Heathrow alone there were 76 million people travelling through last year.”
She disagreed with a booze ban, saying: “I don’t think we can blame what’s in the glass, it’s the person holding the glass.”
The conversation turned to whether airline operators and airports could do more to prevent alcohol-related incidents in the air.
Martin pointed out: “It’s already illegal to board a plane drunk but when is it ever enforced?
“Alcohol has been banned on the tube and it’s been a tremendous success, it’s much more pleasant to travel late at night with no alcohol.”
He also said alcohol while flying is very different to drinking in a pub.
“It’s a very specific context, tens of thousands of feet up in an air-pressured cabin, a crowded environment,” he said.
“It’s terrifying if someone kicks off in that environment and it’s dangerous.”
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Sonia argued: “I understand that but it’s like a thug putting a brick through the window and banning bricks.”
“It’s nanny state to ban drinks,” she added. “We have to take responsibility for our own actions.”
The topic sparked a HUGE debate online with viewers on both sides.
There were plenty who agreed with Martin on banning booze, some of whom were cabin crew with experience of dealing with drunken passengers in the air.
Meanwhile, many agreed with Sonia’s point that the masses shouldn’t be punished for the actions of a minority.
They suggested stricter rules before boarding to stop inebriated passengers flying.
What do YOU think?