Originally Posted by
miniliq
A brief look at airline histories shows that PanAm management prohibited in-flight liquor service until 1940. When postwar flights across the Atlantic became more regular during the late 1940's, many passengers began to appreciate the pleasures of "Irish Coffee."
Certainly inflight service became popular in the 1950's, but it varied from airline to airline. Pacific Southwest Airlines started serving in 1955, while United started serving two free drinks to first class passengers in 1956. By 1958 Delta was the only major US airline that was still "flying dry," and its management finally threw in the towel and joined the rest. A first it was only on non-stop flights between Houston and New York. Only two drinks per passenger were served -- in small bottles, with each passenger mixing their own cocktails."
So although PanAm was serving drinks on the overseas routes, and TransCanada was serving drinks in Canada in 1945, I'll go with PS in 1955 for my answer. I do remember drinks (and the 4-pack of cigarettes) on flights in the Eastern US in 1957-58, but can't remember the specifics.
Thanks for he new crop of questions!
And thanks for your answer, miniliq! However, the sources I've referenced indicate that a different airline was the first to serve alcohol on U.S. routes, and it started earlier than 1955. The airline was forced to seek liquor licenses from each state its routes passed over.
I'll supply those references as we get around to the correct answer. Please - guess again!