Air travellers face criminal charges for drinking own alcohol on planes

Passengers could face criminal charges for drinking their own alcohol on planes in a crackdown on drunken flyers.

The Scottish Government is pushing for an overhaul of Ukwide aviation legislation to include illicit consumption of alcohol in the air as a specific offence.

Other options outlined by the UK government include placing duty free alcohol in sealed bags, which must remain shut until the passenger’s final destination.

The Scottish Government said passengers drinking their own alcohol on flights is one of 0 Michael Matheson: Letter to Westminster on the issue the largest factors behind disruptive incidents on planes.

The Civil Aviation Authority said nearly one in five (18 per cent) of people who had flown in the past three years had witnessedaggressiveordrunken behaviour during flights.

People drunk on a aircraft face up to two years of imprisonment and an unlimited fine under existing laws.

A UK government paper states one airline reported that in around half of the disruptive passenger incidents that involve drunkenness, crew members found evidence those involved had been drinking their own alcohol on board.

It is understood Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has written to the UK Transport Secretary requesting illicit consumption of alcohol on board aircraft is made a criminal offence.