Originally Posted by
cbn42
Hand sanitizer can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is a much larger threat than terrorism. If someone doesn't have hand sanitizer when they need it, this could result in them contracting COVID and potentially spreading it to others, which could cost more lives than a terrorist attack. Therefore it makes sense to allow hand sanitizer.
No similar rationale exists for Sprite. No one will get sick because they don't have access to Sprite upon landing.
If there were a real threat of terrorism, 3 or 4 terrorists could bring in their allocation of hand sanitizer and make quite a powerful incendiary device with it. There is no terrorist threat, which is why it's safe to load an airplane with passengers, half or more of whom will have hand sanitizer. Also, now that people can bring in alcohol, nobody is going to fool with peroxide-based or peanut butter-based or brownie-based or juice-based explosives, so the liquids rule becomes even more meaningless than it was in the first place.
Therefore the issue of whether or not there is a special need for Sprite is irrelevant. Plus, especially with in-cabin service being cut back so much, there's a significant value in being able to bring drinks on board. And THIS will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus due to reducing the need for contact between the FA and passengers. If a passenger needs to obey their thirst, they don't need to solicit Sprite from the FA, they can just open up their own can.