New Delhi: In the wake of recent incidents of unruly behavior by passengers on board, Air India has revised its in-flight alcohol policy, asking its crew to serve alcohol judiciously when required.
The Tata Group-owned airline has been fined by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over lapses in the unruly behavior of passengers on two international flights in the past few days.
The exact change in the revised policy could not be ascertained at present. According to the revised policy, passengers should not be allowed to consume alcohol unless served by crew members and crew members will be vigilant in identifying passengers who may be consuming their own alcohol.
As per the policy, “Alcoholic beverages must be served in an appropriate and safe manner. This includes refusing to (further) serve alcohol to guests.”
An Air India spokesperson said in a statement that the airline has reviewed the existing policy on offering alcohol in flight based on the guidelines of the US National Restaurant Association (NRA), in line with the practices followed by other airlines.
“This is largely in line with Air India’s existing practice, although some adjustments have been made for better clarity,” the statement said. The NRA’s traffic light system has been incorporated to help crews identify and manage potential cases of intoxication.”
