§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have received from the Civil Aviation Authority about the number of incidents involving disruptive behaviour by 114WA passengers; and whether, in the interests of aviation safety, they will consult with other states which are members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation on ending the practice of supplying free alcohol to passengers. [HL2432]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)One hundred and four incidents of disruptive behaviour by passengers were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority under the mandatory reporting scheme in 1997, not all of which resulted from drunkenness. In the same period UK airlines carried some 80 million passengers. While such incidents can be distressing for fellow passengers, the CAA has no real evidence to suggest that disruptive behaviour by passengers is a significant safety problem.
It is an offence for a passenger to enter an aircraft while drunk or to be drunk on board an aircraft. It is also an offence for any person recklessly or negligently to act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person therein. Both offences are punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment.
Airlines have to take responsibility for ensuring that they do not serve passengers with alcohol to such an extent that they become intoxicated. The CAA is working with the industry to ensure that airline staff receive appropriate training to enable them to deal with this problem. The CAA is also actively engaged in raising awareness of passenger responsibilities, such as the effect of alcohol at altitude and need for moderation. They believe that this is preferable to restricting the supply of alcohol to the vast majority of responsible passengers.