How many drinks is too many drinks?

[Pushka]

On a flight Melbourne Adelaide yesterday around 2pm. The serving time on the 55 minute flight is around 30 minutes or so.Sitting in a middle and aisle seat, the person in the window seat wanted to use the restroom within seconds of the seat belt sign so out we all get and let him through. Afternoon snack of lumpy biscuit was served, along with the first can of Fosters for our friend. Five minutes later, ding, another can please. Then they announced prep for landing, so ding, another can for him. And asked to get out to go to the rest room again but as the seat belt sign came on I said I thought it was too late. He stayed, slugging down his third can. He still had it in his hand when we landed.

Surely it isn't acceptable to serve someone three cans of booze on a Sunday afternoon on such a short flight, with the final can being served after the announcement for prep for landing has been called?

 

[harvyk]

That's a pretty good effort from the window pax there. That's basically averaging a can every 10 minutes, no wonder they needed to use the restroom. :shock:

I would also guess it's not the first brewski of the afternoon either.
I'm also surprised that the FA's had time to actually get more than one can, as they rarely just appear like that, and it has always taken a minute or two for them to get a drink from the galley. They would have had to have called the FA's over before they had even half finished their drink.

 

[Pushka]

He used his call button after the first drink served with the refreshments service. He didn't pay for the last two drinks either. It didn't seem particularly busy with service and I dont think they served tea or coffee come to think of it.

 

[simongr]

Surely it isn't acceptable to serve someone three cans of booze on a Sunday afternoon on such a short flight, with the final can being served after the announcement for prep for landing has been called?

Was he drunk and abusive? If not - what concern is it of yours whether he had one or 10 drinks?

 

[QF1]

Agree with Simon on this...so long he was not an inconvenience to anyone...I think he did a good job.

 

[bossreggie]

Oh Pushka....

Poor people drink too you know!! :shock:

I would have had 6 glasses of wine on the same flight... It's just that I'd be in Row 1 with a "shadow" so no-one would have to move, for me to use the bathroom.

Maybe he's scared of flying and the few drinks help calm him down?? I wouldn't like to have someone have to climb over me to use the bathroom, however.... Aside from that... I don't see what he did wrong??

Boss

 

[amaroo]

IIRC that quantity was the minimum standard service on AN flights SYD-BNE

 

[Pushka]

Oh Pushka....

Poor people drink too you know!! :shock:

Boss

We were sitting next to him, me, right next to him. Where does this come from?

Was he drunk? Well on his way. So much so that I shifted my new coat away from him just in case he did a hurl. He wasn't obnoxious though, just well inebriated. Inconvenient? I reckon two bathroom visits in less than an hour, unless you were unwell, is a bit much when in the window seat. And if he was unwell, (and I dont consider inebriated to be unwell) then why did he keep drinking booze.

 

[bossreggie]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There is drunk.... AND there is drunk.

I concede you were inconvenienced, however the FA's have ALL had to undertake a RSA course, so IMHO... It's u to them to make the call.

If you had thought your fellow pax was too inebriated, maybe you could have been able to mention it. (Difficult to do discreetly on a 737 I know)

In the past... I would have had 8 scotches PRIOR to boarding the aircraft, then kept on drinking!! (That was due to my absolute fear of flying!!)

As I said above.... In J, it will not have been such an issue as you would not have been so disturbed by his bathroom visits.

Boss

 

[2impulsiv]

I'd be more concerned that he was drinking Fosters!

 

[smit0847]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There is drunk.... AND there is drunk.

In the past... I would have had 8 scotches PRIOR to boarding the aircraft, then kept on drinking!! (That was due to my absolute fear of flying!!)

Boss

Yikes! Did you call for a wheelchair to be wheeled onto the plane?

I think I'd be looking for the closest nightclub to have a boogie if I'd had 8 scotches!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

My best is 3 drinks on 60minute segment without having to press the call bell.

I too drink a lot domestically to calm the nerves - especially in economy. It's scary back there.

 

[bossreggie]

My best is 3 drinks on 60minute segment without having to press the call bell.

I too drink a lot domestically to calm the nerves - especially in economy. It's scary back there.

I think I'd rather roll naked over broken glass and Av Gas, than fly economy!!:shock:

It is a little frightening.... Even just doing "laps" on the A380!

Boss

 

[whatmeworry]

I probably would have high fived for managing to get 3 cans on such a short flight in Y.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I think sitting on window seat, knowing you'll be frequenting the toilets is a bit wrong. He could either have not drank as much or asked to swap with an aisle seater...

 

[anat0l]

This thread is truly about finding out who can't fly Y.... with fear being in direct proportion to drinking ability:!: :mrgreen:


Jokes aside - how much is too much? Some theories:

• If you are not loud, raucous or breathing alcohol with enough concentration to light a naked flame.... drink away. Actually, add to that - you must be able to coherently hold a conversation.
• Over ~0.08 - 0.1 - too much. At 0.03 it's probably not good to drive; 0.05 you're not driving and getting to double over that you're probably ticking over the perception mark anyway.
• If you can't tell when you should sensibly stop drinking, you shouldn't be drinking in the first place.

Three beers even on a flight that long is a lot, but not a silly amount IMO, especially since it was *yikes* Fosters (they serve Fosters on domestic flights now? My goodness - I thought Qantas had some standards to uphold, but that's all for nothing now!). However, notwithstanding the above notes, if one drink can send you over the edge, then that's too much. So I hope your seat mate was in control.

 

[simongr]

Jokes aside - how much is too much? Some theories:

• If you are not loud, raucous or breathing alcohol with enough concentration to light a naked flame.... drink away. Actually, add to that - you must be able to coherently hold a conversation.

Why on earth should you be able to hold a conversation? The last thing I want to do with my seat buddy is talk.

 

[Paddy55]

Why on earth should you be able to hold a conversation? The last thing I want to do with my seat buddy is talk.

Amen to that... er, unless it's Mrs Paddy

 

[Fantic125]

Amen to that... er, unless it's Mrs Paddy

Wouldn't matter with my wife if I was able to hold a conversation, I still wouldn't get a word in......

 

[anat0l]

Why on earth should you be able to hold a conversation? The last thing I want to do with my seat buddy is talk.

Not to your seat buddy - just to anyone else you may happen to have to talk to for the rest of the day. Including, possibly, SWMBO / HWMBO......