Should you drink the night before a flight?

A more conservative approach is to wait 24 hours from the last use of alcohol before flying. This is especially true if intoxication occurred or if you plan to fly IFR.



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If you are going on a long flight, it is best to think about hydration in advance. “At high altitudes, air is dryer and the oxygen content is lower. This is why, for every hour on a plane, you should drink 0.2 to 0.4 litres of water,” says Anamaría Teino, a doctor at Mehiläinen specialising in travel medicine.

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“Whether or not you're in an airplane, alcohol can disrupt the absorption of oxygen in the bloodstream. 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.”

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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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This is a very widely held urban myth. Residents of Denver, Colorado (1600m), will tell you that one drink in Denver is the same as two in Chicago (179m). However, the research is against it. Numerous studies have shown that altitude has no effect on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

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Drinking prior to a flight, combined with the low cabin humidity, lowers your resistance to cold and flu germs, making you more susceptible to sickness. Stick to just one alcoholic drink, if possible, and then glug down plenty of water to ensure you are well hydrated before you get on the plane.

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“Probably the best thing you can do before (and during) your flight is drink water,” says Aviva Rubin, MS, RDN. “Water prevents dehydration and reduces jet lag while keeping you from feeling lethargic.” Keeping yourself sufficiently hydrated is a simple way to get your flight off on the right foot.

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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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“It can be helpful in relaxing you or easing anxiety in the beginning, and since many people are anxious flyers, this can help,” Shapiro said, while also pointing out that drinking too much can lead to increased anxiety and have a boomerang effect, so it is important to know your limit.

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“Most flight attendants won't drink the tap water, coffee or tea,” she added, noting that caffeinated drinks also dehydrate you – another reason to avoid them while travelling. And before you put ice in your drink, think again. That is also often made using the very same tap water.

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However, this can be counteractive, especially since it can dehydrate you when flying. It is also best to avoid caffeine if you are an anxious flyer. Choose a calming drink like camomile or peppermint tea to help you relax, or even just water.

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The majority of the time, though, many flight attendants aren't going to wake you up if you're napping during the flight. In that case, you can ask to be woken up for the meal. Tell them at the beginning of the flight so you can nap in peace and not have to worry about it.

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No drinking within 8 hours of flight Pilots may not use alcohol “while on-duty or within 8 hours of performing flight crew member duties.” The regulations also require that crew members submit to blood alcohol tests when requested by law enforcement officials authorized to ask for those tests.

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Drink plenty of water The general rule is to drink little and often. Before you even step on board a plane, you should carry a large bottle of water with you.

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