Should alcohol be served on domestic flights?

The Parliamentary panel on Civil Aviation that has Rahul Gandhi, and liquor baron Vijay Mallya as members has strongly recommended that liquor now be allowed in domestic flights.

Liquor used to be served on domestic flights till the late 90s by the now-defunct airlines, East-West and Damania.

Indian Airlines didn't serve any, but permitted passengers to bring and drink their own liquor. However, that resulted in too many people letting the booze go to their head. And since brawls and misbehaviour ensued, drinking on board was banned.

The justification however this time is the interest of farmers who contribute to the wine industry.

On Face the Nation, MP, Rajya Sabha, Tarlochan Singh; Former Chairperson, NCW, Poornima Advani; and Advertising Professional, Jayshree Sundar debated whether alcohol be served on domestic flights or not with host Vidya Shankar Aiyar.

Tarlochan Singh is a member of the committee that has backed the recommendation. When asked what the principal reason for the committee to back the idea was, Singh said that the Maharashtra farmers have put in an application requesting that the wine that they make be served in domestic flights.

“I suggested that all passengers can get a sealed bottle of wine or beer which is not alcohol instead of regular soft drinks if they wished to,” added Singh.

But was it fair to reintroduce the practise since it was banned following brawls? “I am not recommending hard liquor. Beer and wine will not create problems,” Singh clarified.

Poornima Advani meanwhile didn’t agree with Singh and said she was shocked that a Parliamentary committee was even discussing serving liquor on flights.

“It is an anti-women move and is a classic example of Parliament being dominated by men and women’s voices not being heard,” she said.

The former chairperson of NCW added that it would be “against the interest of women” and lead to abuses.

“There are already many complaints of men getting frustrated and thereby getting physical with airhostesses on flights. If this happens, there will be no end to it,” Advani pointed out.

Jayshree Sundar, however stood middle ground and said it would be good for India if anything would help the agrarian economy.

“I don’t mind this. But I also agree that if it leads to abusive behaviour, it’ll be very uncomfortable for women,” she added.

But did she buy the argument of Tralochan Singh that the decision was taken to primarily help the farmers and the wine industry or was it just to boost tourism?

“I don’t think tourists are going to stop coming to India because they don’t get a beer or a wine on a domestic flight. I have been on enough flights abroad where there has just been tea, coffee or orange juice,” Sundar pointed out.

When Advani, who was vehemently opposing the idea of serving alcohol on flights, was asked if she would want the focus to shift to other things like good quality food, she said, “I don’t’ see the reason for alcohol to be served in a one hour domestic flight. I am sure men can keep away from wine or beer for an hour at least. One would hate to have a man stinking of liquor sitting next to you.”

But is it not important to boost tourism? “It is more important to take care of your citizens,” Advani said.

Singh, who was accused of thinking of foreigners are tourists first and not of the women airhostesses who might have to bear the brunt of bad behaviour, however clarified that he wasn’t a propagandist for liquor. And that it was wrong to look the issue as a fight between men and women.

“There has been no decision as yet. But the proposal was that there was no harm in selling beer or wine. There is no question of liquor,” Singh said.