Why is it illegal to bring alcohol on a plane?

This allows monitoring of consumption to avoid intoxication and irate, disruptive, or violent behaviors. For additional safety, flight attendants will not serve passengers if they already appear intoxicated during their flight.



To clarify a common misconception: it is not illegal to bring alcohol on a plane (if it fits TSA liquid rules), but it is strictly illegal to consume your own alcohol onboard. Per FAA regulation 14 CFR § 121.575, passengers may only drink alcohol that is served to them by the airline. This law exists for two primary reasons: Safety and Liability. Flight attendants are legally required to monitor your level of intoxication; they must be able to cut off service if a passenger becomes a safety risk. Alcohol also affects the body more intensely at high altitudes due to lower oxygen levels and cabin pressure. Consuming your own "mini-bottles" prevents the crew from managing these risks, and in 2026, violations can lead to federal fines exceeding $40,000 and inclusion on a "No Fly" list.

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In response to a historic uptick in reported incidents of unruly and disruptive — and sometimes intoxicated — passengers, many airlines banned alcohol on flights during the COVID pandemic. The FAA investigated over 1,000 cases of unruly passengers in 2021 alone — more than the five previous years combined.

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You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.

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Checked Bags: Yes Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags.

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1. Carbonation: Diet coke tends to be more carbonated than regular coke, which can cause the beverage to fizz excessively when poured at high altitudes. This can make it difficult for flight attendants to pour and serve the drink without it overflowing or spilling.

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The diet variety is said to contain more carbon dioxide than any other soft drink so it takes significantly longer for the foam to fall at altitude. “This is why flight attendants hate serving Diet Cokes on the plane... it takes too long to pour,” Ariel said in a TikTok video.

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It's been proven time and again that our taste buds act a little differently when we fly. This is because the drier air and cabin pressure can dull our sense of taste and smell, making certain food and drink taste a bit different than they do on the ground.

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For carry-on you are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that can fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag. If it's overflowing from the bag, that isn't comfortable. Please remember, one bag per passenger. For checked bags, there is no limit!

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For beer and wine under 24% ABV, there aren't any limitations on how much can travel in checked bags as long as it fits in your luggage. Anything over 70% ABV won't be permitted, but this would only apply to distillates and extremely hard liquor, not beer or wine.

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While US and Canadian laws don't prohibit passengers from flying under the influence of drugs, if you are intoxicated, your airline may prevent you from boarding your aircraft.

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