Dawn airport drinkers call out Ryanair boss on proposal to ban ‘holiday ritual’

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has proposed banning airport alcohol sales before early flights to curb disruptive passenger behavior, citing a sharp rise in flight diversions [1]. The call has drawn criticism from pub chain bosses and holidaymakers who view the pre-flight drink as a ritual. At a Wetherspoon’s in Stansted Airport’s departure lounge, passengers defended the morning pint as a holiday tradition. "It’s a holiday ritual," said Dee Wood, 60, who was having a drink before a flight to Alicante [1]. Her friend Rachel Almond, 59, agreed, stating, "It’s like the start of holiday" [1]. For them, the drink marks a departure from routine without leading to drunkenness [1]. O'Leary told the Times that Ryanair now diverts nearly one flight a day due to onboard disruption, up from one a week a decade ago [1]. He argues airports should stop serving alcohol before early flights to address the problem [1]. Some passengers acknowledged potential issues but defended moderate consumption. "It’s just a drink before boarding to say our holiday starts here," Wood said [1]. Cerys Parnell, 24, called her pre-flight Corona a "symbol of unwinding and relaxation" and questioned the focus on timing over consumption levels [1]. Tim Martin, CEO of JD Wetherspoon, labeled the proposed ban an "overreaction" and said it would be "extraordinarily difficult to implement" [1]. Other travelers, like Alisha Philip and Sean Ryan, opted for non-alcoholic drinks but said they had no issue with others partaking, calling it part of the culture [1].