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Early Morning Pints At UK Airports May Soon Be History

Early Morning Pints At UK Airports May Soon Be History

The Home Office are planning to close a loophole that allows airport pubs and bars to open earlier than under the usual rules

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

One of the best parts of flying abroad for many Brits is getting a round in at the airport bar before your early morning flight. But that small joy may soon be no more as the government is looking to crack down on booze-fuelled air rage.

The UK Home Office is considering closing a loophole that allows airport pubs and bars to operate outside normal licensing laws, The Times has reported.

PA

Ministers plan to extend the Licensing Act 2003 - which limits the times a boozer can sell booze - to cover alcohol sold to passengers in airport pubs, bars and restaurants before they board their flights.

The move would also let local councils licence and inspect pubs and restaurants in other travel hubs. Potentially, it could also mean that bars are closed at the time when most normal people are still sleeping off the night before.

Last year, the House of Lords called for 24-hour pre-flight drink culture to end, blaming liberal serving hours for booze for a 340% increase in 'air rage'. It's easy to see why, tbh.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of passengers contained for bad behaviour last year rose by 50%, ranging from verbal abuse to life-threatening scenarios.

While it's obviously important to be well-behaved at the airport, the changes might seem a harsh punishment to those who enjoy a bevvy responsibly before boarding their flight.

Just eighteen months ago UK airlines and airports introduced a new code of practice designed to tackle irresponsible boozy behaviour.

This code banned passengers from drinking booze they'd bought in the duty-free on flights, and also introduced harsh penalties, banning unruly people from boarding flights in the future. No more trips to Magaluf for them.

According to the Times report, the UK's Department for Transport (DfT) is also considering what it can to deal with disruptive passengers.

PA

A spokesperson for Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines, agreed that more needs to be done to crack down on disruptive drunkards.

"Airlines believe that the exemption for airports from the Licensing Act should be removed." the spokesman said.

"While passengers can still enjoy a drink to start their holiday, airport outlets would be subject to the same licensing requirements as bars, pubs and other outlets selling alcohol in towns and cities, as well as landside at airports."

Get those 5am pints in while you can, then - and try not to be a dickhead afterwards.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Airport, News, Home Office