This is correct. Bottom line is, it is NOT allowed. Strictly prohibited even if some still do it. Not worth the risk, if you ask me. And not fair to ask the flight attendant to take that risk.
Originally Posted by
ursine1
There's no airline "liquor license" per se; they are regulated under a patchwork of multiple state licenses. My understanding is that the FAA or the federal government does not regulate the serving of alcohol; it is a matter left up to state governments. Generally, airlines maintain liquor licenses in the states in which they buy or warehouse liquor, or if a specific state they fly into/out of requires an airline to be licensed in that state. I doubt that Southwest's liquor licensing differs dramatically from other carrier's, although they may be working under a "most restrictive" policy (using the tightest of the state's they're licensed in restrictions as company-wide policy).
After this accident in 2007 there was some discussion of liquor laws and the airlines:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/us/19liquor.html