TUI changes alcohol policy for passengers just months after Ryanair boss calls for airport ban

You gotta love TUI’s policy of allowing free drinks throughout the flight, it’s one of those perks that you just cannot hate.

On long-haul journeys, TUI also offers economy passengers up to three free alcoholic drinks.

However, a new rule coming into force later this year is putting this three-drink limit to an end - and people have mixed feelings about it.

“From 1 November 2026, we are making some changes to the food and drink service included for customers travelling in Economy on our long-haul flights,” a TUI spokesperson told LADbible.

“Customers will continue to receive complimentary soft drinks throughout their flight and a complimentary beer or wine served with their main meal.

“Additional alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase onboard.”

They noted that the Premium cabin experience remains unchanged, while ‘adults with existing bookings affected by the change will receive a £12.50 refund per flight, each way’.

Passengers divided over TUI’s new policy

TUI said they are 'making some changes to the food and drink service' (Getty Stock Images)

Some were very much in favour of the change, with one person commenting on TikTok: “Good, I am glad. I sat on a 10-hour flight to Mexico last year, a wedding group of about 20 adults where absolutely p**sed before even getting on.

“TUI still served them for about 7 hours. I was fuming; it was like a flight to Ibiza with 18-year-olds.”

Another penned: “

Others, however, were not best pleased, with one person commenting: “One drink my a**e! Ffs!!!!!”

“It shouldn’t have to be a blanket ban for everyone. People just need to have more control. Many just enjoy one or two drinks, and I don’t see an issue with that,” someone else said.

TUI’s will still allow free drinks throughout the flight (Getty Stock Images)

Ryanair boss wants airport drinking ban

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary wants to ban early-morning alcohol sales at airports to curb disruptive behaviour on flights.

“It’s becoming a real challenge for all airlines. I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o’clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?” he told The Times.

A Ryanair spokesperson said afterwards: “The problem is not drinking on board one-hour flights; the excessive drinking occurs in airport terminals where no limits are placed on alcohol consumption, especially during flight delays.

“Ryanair have several processes in place to manage disruptive passengers onboard, including crew’s discretion to limit the number of drinks permitted to be purchased inflight.”