Pub Landlord Criticizes Ryanair Chief Over Call to Ban Early Morning Airport Alcohol Sales

A pub landlord has criticised the chief executive of Ryanair for calling on airports to stop selling alcohol early in the morning. The landlord, who runs the Old Thatch in Wimborne, told GB News that the proposal represented an unnecessary level of control over passengers.

He said saving British pubs mattered more than restricting pre-flight drinking. m. He said pre-flight drinking had contributed to a rise in disruptive behaviour on flights. The executive added that Ryanair staff rarely serve passengers more than two alcoholic drinks during a flight.

The landlord told GB News that most people heading on holiday want to have a couple of beers or a glass of wine before they fly. He argued that the majority of passengers can control their own alcohol intake and do not need to be controlled. The landlord described the proposal as ridiculous and opposed what he called a big brother approach.

He said government involvement was not needed and that the industry should instead focus on cutting VAT to levels seen in other European countries. The landlord said lower VAT would reduce the incentive for people to fly abroad for cheaper drinks. He praised a pub industry figure for campaigning on the VAT issue for years.

He described airport operators as profiteering from the practice while airlines act more responsibly.

The landlord said one of the main pressures on British pubs comes from VAT rates, which remain higher than in several European countries. He stated that addressing VAT would have a greater effect on the sector than changes to airport alcohol sales. The comments follow recent tax increases affecting publicans.

The exchange highlights differing views on where responsibility lies for managing passenger behaviour at the start of air travel. Airports, airlines and bar operators have not commented publicly on the latest remarks.