Wetherspoons boss defends airport boozing after Ryanair’s chief called for a two-drink limit on passengers
THE boss of Wetherspoons has defended airport boozing after Ryanair’s chief called for a two-drink limit on passengers.
Sir Tim Martin, who has pubs in six British airports, hit back over Michael O’Leary’s call for curbs on holiday-makers.
He said: “We’ve had no complaints about our pubs from the airport authorities or airlines in recent years.
“Years ago we stopped ‘shooters’ at airports.
“Ryanair in contrast offers a discount on Irish whiskey if a double is ordered.”
Mr Martin said alcohol sales accounted for only a third of sales at his airport pubs over the past month.
Airline chief executive O’Leary had said a rise in violent disorder on flights is being fuelled by drinking in airports.
He said: “We don’t want to begrudge people having a drink, but we don’t allow people to drink-drive, yet we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000ft.”
O’Leary added that drug taking had also led to a spike in crew members and other passengers being targeted in violent outbursts.
He said: “In the old days, people who drank too much would eventually fall over or fall asleep.
“But now those passengers are also on tablets and powder.
“It’s the mix.
“You get much more aggressive behaviour that becomes very difficult to manage.”