INTERNATIONAL airlines are using sneaky tactics to stop people drinking too much on flights. Flight attendants are avoiding eye contact with pickled passengers so they aren’t called over for more orders.
In some cases mixed drinks are watered down.
Airlines deny that policies involving the serving of alcohol have been beefed up in recent years.
But the number of air rage incidents have been declining, suggesting lower alcohol consumption.
A business class passenger on a recent Qantas flight to Singapore told the Herald Sun he had been refused an order after drinking vodka and tonics over five hours.
“The flight attendant said, `You’ve already had five drinks. We’re not allowed to serve you any more’,” he said. The passenger, who asked not to be identified, said he wasn’t drunk and was certainly not being disruptive.
A Qantas spokesman yesterday denied there was a limit.
A source from another airline said it would be unusual to set a limit.
“We certainly don’t count the drinks that passengers have — that’s a bit tough,” he said.
But the source said flight attendants sometimes avoided eye contact with passengers who were ordering alcohol regularly.
Singapore Airlines spokeswoman Samantha Stewart said flight attendants slowed down the drinks service and reminded passengers of health issues if they were drinking too much.
“They have the right to refuse service,” she said.
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March 13, 2005 at 3:06 am