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Home  >  Safety  >  To-Go Cocktails At Airport Bars? How Cosmopolitan…
Safety

To-Go Cocktails At Airport Bars? How Cosmopolitan…

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 15, 2021December 14, 2021 15 Comments

When I was in Las Vegas on my last segment run, I was shocked to see “to go” cocktails being advertised at the airport bar in Terminal 3. Nothing like making it easier for people to bring alcohol onboard a plane in larger servings and then act out…

To-Go Cocktails, Our Latest Gift From Airport Bars

The title was a play on words, but in addition to the name of a popular cocktail, cosmopolitan means having wide international appeal. I don’t mean to argue that it it is urbane to sip cocktails from straws in plastic cups. Rather, it sort of reminded me of the laissez faire attitude of Germany and other parts of Europe, where public alcohol consumption is tolerated, and sometimes encouraged, on streets, public transportation, and in other places often off-limits in the still-parochial USA (and I don’t use that term pejoratively).

But the concept. My goodness, I know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but the idea of buzzed passengers staggering around slot machines may be funny, but its not funny when these drinks are clandestinely brought onboard, especially when a passenger is already loaded and takes another unnecessary drink “for the road” because…he can.

I’m not a big “nanny state” kind of guy, but I this problem is hardly unique to Las Vegas. I’ve long argued that American Airlines and Southwest Airlines should bring back alcohol onboard because it allows flight attendants to better control portions and discourages people from brining their own drinks onboard, which is so easy to do when everyone has two carry-on items and airport bars just steps away from boarding gates are happy to prepare your drink to go.

Of course the sign has (fine print) disclaimers all over it. No, no, you cannot take this onboard. Please be a good fellow and follow the rules.

The unfortunate truth is that alcohol is quite profitable to sell and taxpayer dollars, whether in the form of sales tax (or perhaps drunk and disorderly fines) are needed to fund government.

I’m not saying local governments and airport authorities want people to be drunk on airplanes. But I am saying they are not helping by encouraging people to take a cocktail to go.

CONCLUSION

Practically, I’m still more for harshly punishing people with fines, community service, and potentially jail time for drinking onboard than just making it illegal to take drinks to go. Still, for people who struggle with self-control this is a very strong temptation and I’m not sure public policy is served by offering cocktails to go in boarding gate areas.

Are you in favor of to-go alcohol in airport bars?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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15 Comments

  1. DCA Will Always Be "National" Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 1:06 pm

    Alcohol culture in (nearly?) every other developed nation doesn’t treat alcohol as something to be obtained (21st birthday) in the same manner the US does. I’d argue this creates a much more responsible attitude towards the consumption of alcohol when it’s a part of life from an early/earlier age. It’s treated as any other beverage and isn’t something that must be consumed in large quantities to celebrate some arbitrary achievement. That said, whether you can take alcohol to go or must consume it at bar, I don’t think those that will abuse alcohol will necessarily be more inclined to do so if you can stroll around with it. Someone who generally over-imbibes is probably going to do so regardless. Of course, bar capacity probably limits some folks from drinking more than they should, but I think where there’s a will, there’s a way, and they’ll figure out a workaround anyway. Bottom line at back: I’m cool with it and have partaken once or twice, plus drunkards will be drunkards regardless.

  2. Acura Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    to-go Alcohol is a big thing in Florida now. I don’t drink but it’s a big business since COVID apparently.

    https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/13/governor-desantis-signs-bill-allowing-to-go-sales-of-alcoholic-beverages-by-restaurants/

    obviously do want the restaurants to have the sales and not go under, but do wonder re: safety

  3. Jerry Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    All the bars in AUS serve drinks to-go, and I think it’s common in many other airports in the USA as well. Undoubtedly someone is going to chime in about how they pour their wine/beer/cocktail from the lounge in to a coffee cup and take it on the plane with them. I think the problem here deals more with American drinking culture than it does with anyone being specifically tempted in Las Vegas.

    • Stuart Reply
      December 15, 2021 at 1:30 pm

      Can you explain to me what “American drinking culture” is?

      • Jerry Reply
        December 15, 2021 at 1:43 pm

        Sure, that was a little vague. Alcohol in general seems to be fairly taboo in the US, or at least something that is generally expected to have lots of restrictions attached to it. So when alcohol is suddenly freely available for consumption, consumers are often excited to imbibe in a manner which they might not otherwise do if its presence was deemed no different than say coffee or tea.

        • Stuart Reply
          December 15, 2021 at 2:04 pm

          Alcohol has pockets of being taboo pretty much anywhere in the world. Sure, in a few places in the U.S. you can’t technically buy alcohol on Sunday (and a very few number of dry counties), but not sure that constitutes some sort of widespread culture. As such I still don’t understand the comment and answer. It implies that we are all somehow religious zealots who secretly go on binges when the liquor cabinet is unlocked at allowed moments. Or kids that go to the local summer fair and binge on cotton candy as they can’t get it normally. Even in Utah now it’s easy to drink, lol.

          • Jerry
            December 15, 2021 at 2:48 pm

            I guess to me, the fact that Americans are OK with dry counties, restricted Sunday sales, happy hour being illegal (Mass.), or that bars ‘just’ became legal in Utah, all of which are laws 100% routed in Christianity, serve to indicate that America has an odd drinking culture. I used to have to drive 30 minutes in college to go buy a six pack to take home. That’s weird.

            It’s one part of American life still heavily influenced by the church, most people seem to be OK or at least complacent with it, and I think it has ripple effects amongst many Americans who choose to drink.

          • Acura
            December 15, 2021 at 3:23 pm

            I agree, Jerry. If anything we should go the way of Portugal and decriminalize all of it. let the folks out of jail that are in for marijuana charges while we are at it. long overdue. but the war on drugs is a big business and so is the alcohol industry and liquor lobby. in USA the huge majority of our youth in their teenage and young adult years are out of control when it comes to drinking. i get it’s a coming of age thing but still — many issues concerning youth with fake ID’s, car accidents, hazing, deaths, and more. for me, quitting drinking was amazing for my own health. I still might have a few drinks per year, but I don’t miss how they make me feel physically. responsible drinking is one thing, but much of drinking now isn’t responsible, especially since COVID destroyed so many financially. it’s all a mess, like everything else. but overall I do agree in a perfect world there would be no restrictions on any substance.

  4. Stephen W Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    I’m in favor of jailtime for people who want more restrictions. Just lock them up and throw away the key, it’s the only way!

  5. Robert Smith Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    It might be interesting if you asked your readers to send you the three-letter codes of airports where they have observed “to-go” airport bars MSN is one, I’m sure there are many more.

  6. PolishKnight Reply
    December 15, 2021 at 7:47 pm

    Actually, the logic should be that if someone gets a “to go” drink, they will tend to consume it more slowly than if they were to quickly binge drink it to catch their flight. The slower they drink the beverage, the better.

  7. Arthur Reply
    December 16, 2021 at 8:18 am

    I saw some to-go drink signs in some airport a while back. I didn’t get it. Where are you going if not on a plane? Oh, you mean I can drink it while walking around the airport, or sitting at the gate? Somehow, I think these bars are not so subtly suggesting you can take it on board.

  8. ed Reply
    December 16, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Definitely end “to go’s”. Also end the sale of the ‘airline size” miniatures in the airport stores and duty free areas.
    Who would think it has come to this, but it has, and we must address it.

  9. Fonzi Reply
    December 16, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    I as a non American do not see the issue with cocktails to go. The problem is the Americsans CAN NOT drink. Either not drink or drink to oblivion and that create the problem. They do not know when to stop. This is my observation. I could write why is it like that (i think it is historical issue and alcohol stigmatization) etc so I understand Mathew concern.

    • cargocult Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 7:44 pm

      Have you never encountered English boozers, in England or abroad? Why do you hate America(ns)?

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