British airline first in Europe to impose alcohol ban

British leisure airline Jet2.com is to become the first airline in Europe to impose a ban on alcohol sales.

The company said the move was aimed at bolstering its commitment to tackle disruptive and abusive behavior by banning the sale of alcohol on-board before 08:00 British Summer Time(BST) on all its morning flights. The move will be introduced from August 8 across all its bases.

Jet2.com, awarded top rating in Britain by TripAdvisor, is also calling on airports and retailers to follow its lead to trade responsibly and similarly ban alcohol sales before 08:00 BST.

The airline also wants the aviation industry to support the call for fully sealed bags for alcohol purchased in airports to prohibit the illegal consumption of personal alcohol before and during flights.

"We believe that stopping sales of alcohol before 08:00 BST on our morning flights is an effective way to ensure everyone has an enjoyable and comfortable journey. We understand that we're the first of the European airlines to take this bold step and call upon industry partners in airports to also trade responsibly,"said Phil Ward, managing director of Jet2.com on Thursday.

The announcement further supports the airline's "Onboard Together" campaign which aims to reduce incidences of disruptive behavior on its flights. The initiative has already seen more than 500 passengers refused travel, with over 50 of them given lifetime bans since it was launched in 2015. Endit