Recent media attention has drawn attention to the issue of alcohol-related incidents on train and flight journeys, with reports that the number of alcohol-related incidents has tripled over the last three years on UK flights.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says the majority of the 114 passenger disturbances on UK flights in 2014 were alcohol-related, compared to a total of 39 disturbances in 2011. One aviation industry insider told The Times that many of the incidents were linked to 'long-haul stag parties', although the CAA said incidents were lower than the late 1990s peak.
The CAA emphasised that it is a criminal offence to be drunk on board an aircraft, or to refuse to comply with instructions from the captain. However a Telegraph report suggested there had been calls for limits on alcohol sales in airports. Nathan Stower, chief executive of the British Air Transport Association, told the Times: 'Airlines set tough rules around the consumption of alcohol' and that 'pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK and overseas must play their part.'
Stories in the Mail and BBC detailed various recent incidents involving flights disrupted due to alcohol-related incidents, whilst a drunk passenger was recently jailed despite attempts by London Mayor Boris Johnson to calm him.
Rumours quashed over alcohol ban on train networks
Meanwhile the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) has said alcohol will not be banned on rail networks following a number of media reports.
The claims followed a RSSB report that detailed its strategy for addressing alcohol-related incidents, which included "investigation into... banning the sale and consumption of alcohol on trains". In 2008 Boris Johnson banned alcohol on the London Underground, largely considered a successful policy move.
Alcohol was identified as a factor in 21 of 32 rail passenger fatalities over the past decade. RSSB safety figures also show a rise in alcohol or drug related assaults on staff over the last ten years.
'Pre-loading' - not just a challenge for pubs and bars?
Reports relating to both the flight and train incidents both highlight the issue of how attempts to address alcohol-related incidents might be undermined by the rights of passengers to drink before their journeys, albeit that 'drunkenness' is prohibited on flights. Recent attention has been given to premises using breathalysers to reduce alcohol-related violence, but a similar issue presents; to what extent should the supply of alcohol, or the detection of intoxication, be used as policies to reduce such incidents?
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