Airline brews solution to risk of rowdy, drunk passengers

What’s the latest buzz with inflight beverage service? JetBlue Airlines is the first to fly into the territory of serving nonalcoholic beer, a move industry experts say likely comes after the pandemic years’ drunken shenanigans that had drunk passengers brawling with flight attendants. 

During the pandemic, several airlines temporarily enacted prohibition strategies after those alcohol-fueled travelers caused major disruptions, resulting in notorious flight delays and horrible antics aired on social media, according to the industry forum flyertalk.com.

As KLM Royal Dutch Airlines reported, drinking a little too much in a flight might make you “seem more drunk in the air than you would on the ground after consuming the same amount of alcohol” because of the altitude, dry cabin air, and the diuretic effect of alcohol.

“We’re excited to take flight with JetBlue and allow flyers to relax at 35,000 feet with a great-tasting alternative to full-strength brews,” said Bill Shufelt, co-founder & CEO of Athletic Brewing, in a press release that announced the contract with the airline to offer a nonalcoholic alternative.