While official response of the civil aviation ministry may take time to come, it is highly unlikely the suggestion of the airlines will be accepted. Airports around the world sell alcohol, including airports of Muslim countries where consumption of liquor is officially banned.

All international airports in India have been selling alcohol ever since they came into being. In fact, alcohol sales are a major source of revenue for all international airports in the country. Airport operators like Delhi International Airports Limited (DIAL) which controls the functioning of Indira Gandhi International Airport in the capital have signed long time and expensive contracts with liquor vendors.

Dubai and Singapore airports boast of selling largest quantity of duty free liquor in the world. They claim to be selling the best brands at the cheapest rates because of their low duty structure. International passengers disembarking in India reportedly prefer to buy their stuff here before proceeding to their destinations. Indians travelling abroad make a beeline on the duty free liquor counters in airports on return journey.

It may seem ironical that the airlines engaged in high flying business should be demanding ban of liquor sales at airports. They must be doing so in desperation. Recently, an inebriated male passenger created scene inside the toilet of an airborne plane by demanding help from an airhostess. He had to be overpowered by male crew members. In another incident, a fortnight ago, a drunk passenger started misbehaving with an air hostess in flight and co-passengers had to intervene. Indeed, such incidents have been going up and creating problems for the crew members.

According to airline sources, crew members are generally advised to overlook ” small issues” like slight misdemeanor on the part of passengers. “If we are to take all incidents seriously, we cannot remain in flying business”, an airline official said requesting anonymity. The problem arises when a passenger crosses all limits of decency. Crew members have then no choice but to intervene. The airlines have written to the civil aviation ministry that the situation is worsening in late evening flights where some passengers come tipsy or secretly begin to drink mid air.

Indian Aircraft Rules of 1937 vintage prohibit any person under the influence of liquor from entering the aircraft. Going by the rule book, therefore, such passengers can be offloaded. The rule is obviously applied as an exception. But what if too many incidents taking place in the air compromising safety of co-passengers? It is here that the issue becomes serious.

The airlines argue that they can prevent a passenger from boarding an aircraft if he shows obvious signs of inebriation. But what can they do if the passenger begins misbehaving in mid air?

Indeed, the problem is not new. There have been such cases in the past too. With the fast growing aviation market, the incidents have increased and are only likely to increase further with cheaper air travel on the horizon. Acting on similar complaints several years ago, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a specialized body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, had recommended the positioning of an “air marshal” in every flight mandatorily. It was practiced for sometime but later given up, apparently on the insistence of the airline management. That was the time when PSU carrier Indian Airlines had the monopoly in the domestic skies. The situation is vastly different now with so many private carriers in business and so many more air passengers.

It will be worthwhile for the civil aviation ministry to revisit the past report of its own security bureau which had recommended air marshals in each flight. Maybe the same could be resumed to tackle the problem.

It would be wholly unwise to place a ban on alcohol sale at international airports as suggested by the airlines. (IPA Service)