Can I drink before flight?

Feel free to consume alcohol before boarding a plane, but keep in mind that the flight crew may turn you away if you are tipsy or drunk. This is because you will become more intoxicated the higher the plane flys.



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It's a list of four things you definitely should NOT eat or drink right before hopping on a plane . . .
  • Salty foods. It's common for people to get dehydrated on planes, thanks to the dry air in the cabin. ...
  • Carbonated beverages. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Coffee.


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Therefore, being at a higher altitude, coupled with this effect on your blood oxygen, may make you feel more tipsy—think dizzy, light headed, or even nauseous.” This explains why people tend to get more boisterous more quickly on planes—they feel drunk more quickly and therefore begin acting inebriated earlier than ...

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“Why do people drink so early at airports?” For a place where everyone is watching clocks, there is no real sense of time at an airport. “If you look out, all you see is the tarmac, a few airplanes,” says Michael Sayette, an alcohol researcher at the University of Pittsburgh.

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Under current FAA regulations, passengers aren't allowed to drink alcohol while flying unless it's served by a flight attendant. Your flight attendant also isn't allowed to serve you if you're intoxicated.

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That's the same limit as for other critical jobs, such as air traffic controllers, ambulance drivers, and some ship captains. But pilots aren't required to take a breathalyzer test before boarding their assigned plane each time. Instead, pilots are tested randomly or if there is reasonable suspicion.

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Airlines have the right to refuse to sell alcohol to any passenger on any flight. However, there's no law that states you cannot drink or purchase alcohol on morning flights. Any airline that ordinarily sells alcohol will usually allow you to purchase and drink alcohol, no matter what time of the day you're flying.

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The dry cabin air messes with our odor receptors, and since things taste differently when our sense of smell is impaired—think about eating when you have a cold—food tastes blander on a plane than it does on the ground. That same principle is what makes tomato juice taste better in the air.

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Airport security restrictions on liquids are primarily intended to prevent the smuggling of explosive materials onto aircraft. Liquids, including drinks, can potentially conceal explosives or other dangerous items.

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Unfortunately, alcohol isn't the answer for airplane sleep. While it can initially lull you into slumber, studies show that alcohol can lead to more awakenings, worse sleep quality, and less deep sleep. Plus, you will wake up feeling dehydrated and groggy, amplifying the dreaded jet lag.

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  • Bloody Mary. Ingredients: tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, vodka. A Bloody Mary has long been known as the best cocktail to order on a plane. ...
  • Gin and Tonic. Ingredients: gin, tonic water, lemon slice. ...
  • Moscow Mule. Ingredients: ginger beer, vodka. ...
  • Mimosa.


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The FAA says a pilot will be removed from a plane if their breath alcohol concentration level is 0.04 or greater. Pilots also must not drink within 8 hours before flying, the so-called “bottle to throttle” time period.

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Since the TSA does not conduct alcohol testing, you may get past the TSA, even if you are drunk. However, if you are visibly inebriated, the airport police could arrest or cite you for public intoxication.

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