Drunk passengers could be fined £80k and JAILED if the plane gets diverted because of boozy antics
TRAVELLERS jetting off to party hotspots have been warned about knocking back the booze on their flights - as they risk jail and hefty fines.
It comes as figures reveal the larger the group the higher the risk they will cause a disruption due to excessive drinking.
Drunk passengers could find themselves owing up to £5,000 and jailed for up to two years.
If their antics are so disruptive to the flight that it's forced to divert the trouble makers could be slapped with a fine of up to £80,000.
The warning against drinking too much comes ahead of the end of season parties in places such as Ibiza and Marbella.
Francois Bourienne, chair of the UK Travel Retail , said: “Traditionally, late September and October is a popular time for travellers taking advantage of cheaper flights or jetting off for end-of-season parties.
"We want to particularly remind these groups that consequences will be enforced and that means the party could end before you reach your destination.”
The data which led to the warning was collected by the government-backed One Too Many public awareness campaign.
It was launched in July by aviation minister Baroness Sugg and includes the UK Travel Retail Forum, the Airports Operators Association, the International Air Transport Association and Airlines UK.
Airports and airlines now track and log the disrupted flights to better identify groups which might be more likely to cause problems.
Glasgow Airport said so far this year 65 per cent of incidents - which are classed as getting a warning or more - are from passengers in groups such as hen and stag parties.
Last month we reported how the days of breakfast beers at the airport could be over as the Government considers a crack-down on binge drinking before a flight.
Incidents of disruptive behaviour on planes have more than quadrupled in the last four years, but now airport bars, shops and restaurants to be subject to the same alcohol laws as the high street.
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And travellers heading to Dubai were warned drinking on the plane could land them in prison.
The warning comes after a mum-of-three was locked up in Dubai with her four-year-old daughter after drinking a single glass of wine on an Emirates flight from Gatwick.
Ryanair called for a ban on drinking at the airport after a “disruptive” passenger dressed as Tinkerbell on a stag do was kicked off one of the airline's flights at Stansted.
The firm has renewed calls to stop passengers from drinking at the airport before 10am.
It also wants to bring in a two-drink limit per passenger before boarding flights to further clamp down on bad behaviour.
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