But perhaps airport drinking isn't different at all. It still facilitates transition from one state to another—only literally. It still provides the illusion of easing the low-grade misery of life. And it still fosters camaraderie.
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“In a way, alcohol may be crucial for air travel, because it allows you to relax into passive helplessness,” said Slingerland, who was in an airport when we spoke.
“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.
Can You Drink Your Own Alcohol On a Plane? The short answer is a resounding “no.” U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations state that drinking your own alcohol on a commercial flight is prohibited, and those who don't comply could face upwards of $40,000 in fines.
Although airlines have shifted away from offering free alcohol in economy, thankfully most legacy carriers still offer (at least) free beer and wine on international flights. American Airlines, for example, recently expanded its free alcohol selection on certain routes.
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.
avi·?o·?pho·?bia ?a-ve-?-'fo-be-? ?a- variants or less commonly aviaphobia. : intense fear or dislike of flying : aerophobia. Relatively few of the estimated 25 million Americans who suffer from aviophobia avoid flying altogether.
It's not just airline policy: Federal aviation regulations say that no airline may allow anyone to board a plane if the passenger appears to be intoxicated. That can include intoxication from drugs such as marijuana, even in cities or states where they're legal or decriminalized.