Business travel is SO glamorous!

Yeah, right. I think it IS kind of cool that I am writing this on my iPad mini sitting in seat 21A on AA flight 2668 at 30,000 feet flying from Dayton, OH to Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. But our flight was delayed from 4:25pm to almost 8:00pm. No bueno.

When I realized on my way to the airport this afternoon that this was Thursday and I hadn’t written this week’s post, I decided to spring the $9.95 for WiFi access and write and publish the post on the plane. And then the subject came to me…

What are the rules for alcoholic beverages on airline flights?

And of course the answer is… It depends. Let’s get the easy part out of the way first. If you are flying in the US, the FAA says:

 “No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage.”

So no BYOB unless you have the flight attendant serve it.

Other than that, it’s kind of the Wild West up here. But there are some general rubles of thumb and common practices that you can pretty much count on.

How old?

For age requirements, generally count on the laws of the home country of the carrier applying, unless the age for the departure country is higher, then that age will probably apply.

For instance, if you’re flying to Cancun where the legal drinking age is eighteen for spring break on AA, you probably won’t be starting the party early if you’re nineteen. No joy on the return flight either. But if you’re flying Mexicana, the bar could be open on the return, although the bouncer is probably going to spoil your southbound party.

Can I get a Bloody Mary on Sunday morning?

Generally, the airlines are bound by, or voluntarily follow the laws of the departure jurisdiction while on the ground. So if the flight is leaving a city in a state where no liquor may be served before noon on Sunday, no pre-flight cocktails before noon, but once you get in the air, the bar’s open. The same for countries like those in the Middle East where alcohol is prohibited. Party like it’s 1999 until touchdown.

Another strange one I came across envolves requirements for flight attendants to be trained as alcohol servers. Since 1993, the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has required that airline personnel undergo alcohol server training. Any airlines using Alaska airports must report to state officials the form and substance of the training they give their flight personnel. After an incident in 2006 when an intoxicated passenger from a US Airways flight to Santa Fe, New Mexico killed a family of five while driving the wrong way on Interstate 25, New Mexico followed suit. All but 13 states require that transportation companies including airlines obtain liquor licenses before they can serve liquor on flights departing the state.

Hazardous Cargo

Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, are prohibited in your checked luggage.

You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.

Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations. (Ka-BOOM!)

What do you think?

Well, I need to wrap this up before they shut down the WiFi for landing. Do you have any high flying liquor law stories? We want to hear about it. Leave a comment below. Or email me at Mark@CrazyLiquorLaws.com. You will need to register to comment and at that time I will need your email address; but don’t worry; I won’t be spamming you and will never sell your information.

Cheers!

Mark