Even before Covid, these types of inflight misbehaviors popped up now and then. I'm surprised that in all of my 6000+ some odd flights, I've only witnessed one incident that would qualify as inappropriate. It was on an Eastern flight back in the late 70s. Alcohol, beligerance, aggression and threats were involved. The guy was a real jerk. I wouldn't have minded seeing a little Steven Seagal type justice directed his way. As it was, a couple of burly fellow passengers got involved and made it clear that life would become distinctly painful and unpleasant if the offending passenger let out so much as a peep of further complaints about his being cut off from further spirits. He complied, but he was also welcomed to Ft. Lauderdale by law enforcement and escorted off the plane.

Incidents like this are fortunately pretty rare, but ever since "news" pivoted toward sensationalism and entertainment over quality stories and more important information, incidents such as this get more strident coverage than they deserve.

The better story might be if collectively, inflight misbehavior was becoming problematic - as it was during Covid. At this late stage though, these stories of the occasional isolated individual incident just pander to the desire amongst some for cheap, tawdry "entertainment"