Padraig O’Ceidigh, former owner of Aer Arann and Aer Lingus Regional, believes airlines need to take greater responsibility. “I don’t think that alcohol should be sold on board an airplane, quite frankly,” he said. “Particularly on reasonably short-haul flights, but I don’t think it should be sold on airplanes in any event. Cigarettes aren’t sold on airplanes.”

Last year, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called for stricter alcohol limits in airports to combat rising disorder on flights. O’Leary proposed restricting passengers to two drinks per journey, citing an increase in antisocial behaviour and violence. He told The Daily Telegraph that alcohol-related incidents, often exacerbated by other substances, are now occurring on a weekly basis.