It is....until you return. Remember in 95% of cases, although you can fly out with as much liquid as you like, you can't coming back. And unless you're planning to use a hell of a lot of makeup and aftershave in your trip away, most people will want to take it back with them.

Strangely in the US they've sort of implemented the same scanners, but kept the liquids rule. I flew out of AUS and they told us to keep all laptops, liquids etc in our bags, then the family in front of me got stopped for taking too much liquid and had to start emptying their bag to comply.