Should alcohol be charged on airlines?
 

You know. When i talk with people and we start a discussion about airlines my buddies usually start to talk about how airlines charge for alcoholic beverages. I do not consume alcohol, but i tell them they charge a fee for alcoholic beverages because then if alcohol comes free on the airline people will drink responsibly and then the airline and other passengers are going to have a problem. In my opinion the right thing is to charge for alcohol.
What do you think?
Should airlines charge for alcoholic beverages?

yes alcohal should be charged on airlines, its a safety reason and it turns people away from purchasing more alcohal on the flight which could in turn create a situation in which a passenger gets drunk and becomes rude, loud, aggresive, and it will and destroy the flying experience for other flyers (or make the experience worse)

Like you I don't drink and agree that by charging people are more likely(hopefully...fingers crossed) will drink less. I don't enjoy being around drunk people in any situation.

"Dry" flights
 

The only people who would NOT drink if they had to pay would be people who, normally, don't drink to excess anyway.

In the interest of traffic accidents and, to a lesser extent, assaultive behavior in-flight alcohol should only be served on flights of 4 hours or more: Serving first 2 hours, "bar closed" last two hours. Accordingly this would make most domestic flights "dry."

I think it's just a matter of time before a judge, somewhere, finds an airline liable under a "host liability" law. There was a case, in the Atlanta area, not too long ago. Unfortunately the airline was Delta. So it's probably a fantasy to imagine an Atlanta area judge would rule against Delta.

Finally it's interesting to note that one of the biggest opponents to banning or restricting alcohol service on flights are flight attendants. I'll resist the temptation to conclude that flight attendants want booze on flights so they can then have the customer arrested for in-flight intoxication (an FAA rule violation.) Rather I'll assume they think otherwise bothersome customers will shut-up if they're stewed.

Actually, Butch, there ARE dry flights! US Airways is forbidden to sell alcoholic beverages on any flight to or from the State of New Mexico. It all stemmed from a case where a man got off a US Airways flight to Albuquerque and drove his vehicle the wrong way on I25 near Santa Fe killing 5 people and himself in a head-on collision. It was discovered that US Airways did not have a valid liquor license in New Mexico. Story here.

The man obviously had a serious problem because he stopped at a store and purchased beer somewhere between the airport and the site of the crash.

this person has a point Butch

no duh hey

I wouldn't be upset if alcohol was removed form aircraft, and airports bars taken away as well. Causes a lot more problems than it solves.

i feel the same way as gromit, i know it impedes on "freedoms" but it creates more harm than good, especially in a confined area where if something goes wrong and the dunk passenger is unruly than theres minimal chance of escape, you cant walk away, you can move seats if it isnt a full flight but the drunk may follow

also in case of an emergancy someone who is under the influnce of alcohal than this may impede and hinder others from escaping