O'Leary used the UK's Daily Telegraph to issue a case that introducing alcohol limits at airports would help tackle a rise in disorder on flights. He claimed violent outbursts were occurring on a weekly basis due to alcohol. He also claimed it was especially worse when alcohol was mixed with other substances. "In the old days, people who drank too much would eventually fall over or fall asleep. But now those passengers are also on tablets and powder. It's the mix. You get much more aggressive behaviour that becomes very difficult to manage." he told them.
O'Leary claimed it was difficult for his staff to identify inebriated people at the gate, even after Ryanair cabin crew searched passengers' carry-on bags, "As long as they can stand up and shuffle they will get through. Then when the plane takes off, we see the misbehaviour".
Of course, Ryanair reserves the right to sell as many alcoholic drinks to passengers during flights, whilst restricting the rights of airport retail establishments from selling more than two drinks.
The carrier makes almost half of its profits from the sales of ancillary products in flight and insisting on a two-drink limit at airports would definitely help those profits rise.
