Air travel can often be quite stressful – in particular all the rules around what you can or cannot take onto a flight.

Varying liquids in any form often come with strict rules but alcohol especially has some dos and don’ts about how much passengers can take on board, including any that has been bought in duty free.

Travellers flying with popular British airlines including TUI, Jet2, British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair should check the specific rules set by each company before heading off on their holidays to avoid any problems at the gate.

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The main thing most passengers will need to check is a drink’s Alcohol By Volume (ABV) content, which measure how much alcohol is in a specific volume of beverage.

Airlines often have rules around ABV percentages and also have particular restrictions on drinking when on board the plane.

While the law is clear that a “person must not enter any aircraft when drunk, or be drunk in any aircraft”, all the other particulars vary with each airline carrier. Fortunately, we’ve got a list of what each airline says about alcohol on their flights to make it easier.

For any alcoholic drinks with under 24% ABV, TUI does not subject them to restrictions. Any that have over 70% ABV are not permitted. For drinks with ABV between 24% and 70%, they have very specific requirements. The airline's website adds that “alcoholic beverages, containing more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume, when in retail packaging in receptacles not exceeding 5 L, with a maximum total net quantity per person of 5 L for such beverages".

People boarding a Jet2 aircraft with alcohol may not consume it during the flight and the airline reserves the right to restrict the consumption of alcohol on board at any given time. Alcohol with an ABV over 70% is not permitted in checked or hand luggage.

The website explains: “You may not bring on board alcohol for the purposes of consumption whilst on the aircraft. For safety reasons we restrict the consumption of alcohol on board. Only alcoholic drinks purchased on board may be consumed during the flight. It is an offence to be drunk on any aircraft. Jet2.com reserves the right to serve alcoholic drinks to customers at our absolute discretion.”

Travellers on British Airways flights can bring as many alcoholic drinks on board as they want if they are under 24% ABV. If the ABV is between 24% and 70%, they have a 5L limit and anything above 70% ABV is not permitted.

The website says: “There's no limit on the number of alcoholic beverages you can travel with as long as their alcohol volume is below 24. You can bring up to five litres of alcohol with an alcohol volume between 24% and 70%. This can travel in your cabin bag if you purchased it in the airport duty-free shop, or you can pack in your checked baggage.

"Drinks above 70% alcohol volume are not permitted on board our aircraft in either checked baggage or hand baggage. Please see the hand baggage requirements section above for information about taking liquids in your hand baggage through the security check areas."

EasyJet does not allow any alcohol to be drunk on its planes that have not been purchased while on board their flight. Passengers can bring alcohol that has been purchased elsewhere on to the aircraft with them as long as it’s not consumed and also under 70% ABV.

The website says: “You can bring alcohol bought in the airside departure lounge into the cabin, as long as it’s unopened. Alcohol must be lower than 70% abv, and packed either in an airport shopping bag or in your cabin bag. It’s strictly forbidden to drink any alcohol that has not been purchased on board the aircraft and those found consuming their own alcohol may face prosecution.”

Like all other airlines, Ryanair also prohibits any alcohol above 70% ABV being brought on to its flights but they do allow any duty-free bag with duty-free items into the cabin alongside your cabin bags. Although be warned they do check the bags, so other items that are not purchased from duty-free cannot be stored in them.

Have you been caught out by an airline's little-known rule? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

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