Russian airlines to ban vodka on flights

Several Russian airlines are reported to be in the process of banning vodka on some flights as drunken incidents spike.

Airlines such as the Russian national carrier Aeroflot are reporting over 1,000 incidents a year of passengers getting drunk on vodka, being abusive, attacking the crew and fellow passengers and even trying to get inside the cockpit.

Aeroflot alone has recorded 1,000 such incidents in the last three years, however a test between February and June 2010 when it trialled vodka-free flights to popular holiday destinations such as Havana, Bangkok and Vladivostok, showed a dramatic fall in the number of such events occurring.

Currently drunken behaviour is punishable by a 1,500 ruble fine (€37) but this is clearly not dissuasive enough.

As well as banning the serving of vodka, any spirits bought in duty free may be taken away from passengers for the flight and given back at the end.

The Russian Ministry of Transportation is said to be ready to support the airlines’ proposals.