bchandler02

No, it doesn't, because each person handles alcohol differently. Laws say you can't serve someone who appears intoxicated, it does not specify how many drinks you can serve. If I can drink 15 shots of whiskey and act the same as I do after 0 shots, that's my business.

james318

Or if they have to do any additional work. That's their main concern. Kidding...

But one question, on international flights do they really lock up the booze and hour or two before landing, or was that the flight attendants way of telling a friend he wasn't getting any more?

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

A FA doesn't know what you can and cannot handle. He or she doesn't know whether you will sit there calmly and quite or suddenly become a loud roaring drunk acting inappropriately towards others. The FA doesn't know what your post flight activities include-do you have connection, are you taking an Uber/taxi home, are you driving? Therefore FAs have to use some judgement. Anyone pounding multiple whiskeys has the POTENTIAL of becoming an inflight problem. Again, the FA does not know you personally. I'm not sure what I can say about adults that can't seem to accept that FAs have a bigger picture to think about other than a pax that wants to drink up as much free booze as possible.

carlosdca

Your own judgment of how you behave after 15 shots is irrelevant, even more so considering that alcohol "impairs judgement".
What matters is how others perceive you.

How many here have a friend that has just had his 5th gin and tonic of the night and wants to drive home and his argument will be "I'm fine!!! I'm ok!!! Don't you guys worry"

An FA can't wait until someone starts dancing naked around the cabin, or some other extreme behavior to stop serving alcohol.
You can be a peaceful quiet drunk but you are still drunk.
A peaceful drunk can also be a nuisance or become a problem during flight.

AA100k

Herb687

DataPlumber

Having had to once help a FA pull an older gent out of the first class lav who became unconscious after he had a few drinks, I support a FAs judgement- even if its conservative to me. In that case he was on medication that didn't mix well with booze. If you get cut off, meh- go get your liquor on once on the ground. Now for the bars we've been tossed out of over the years, that's another story!

JSSAUCE

Wow, so many people have no concept of responsible alccohol service. A server absolutly should take into account the number of drinks. Have you ever taken a course?

JSSAUCE

Drink away, I have done so myself, way too many as recently as earlier this week. I am only saying the server absolutly has the authority to restrict/limit/stop service. What you/we/me think should be the limit or rule means nothing. If a server cuts you off after 1 drink, your cut off. To argue you can handle 1/3/5/15 drinks means nothing. If a server feels its time to cut you off, thats it.

JSSAUCE

Agree but in this case we are discussing cutting off drinks a the FA's discretion. I personally am not equating responsible alcohol service with checking bags, boarding, on time flights, upgrades, lounges, ect.

LINDEGR

I am sorry but that's ridiculous. The FA or server must be reasonable and act in good faith. Cutting off a person after one drink is outrageous and should be grounds for termination!!! I'd be writing my sternly-worded letter to AA for the rest of the flight if that happened to me. Contrary to the many comments above about "free" drinks are not free - they are part of the purchase price of my premium ticket and I intend to consume as many as possible every time that I fly.

JSSAUCE

Of course and I do agree. My entire point is a server does have the full authority to make a decision to cut someone off, even if it may seem unreasonable to some. And while I am sure many FA's serve 2,3,4 drinks to a customer in a 2-3 hour period, had it happen to me before I stopped drinking on planes as it just physically bothers me too much, it does not make it the responsable course of action. I would not expect any compensation nor would I personall approve of any if I was in charge for cutting someone off. 1 and done on a 2 hour flight seems very unreasonable, but 3/4/5 drinks on a 2-3 hour flight is excessive by all acceptable training standards, and I do drink. I go to bars, to resturants, I see people over served all the time.

cynicAAl

And there's the problem. I'm not interested in how a server/FA "feels" about my consumption. If I become a behavior problem, then cut me off.

JSSAUCE

Sorry to inform you but they very much do have the authority to cut you off due to how they "feel" you are acting, will act, amount of drinks, ect. You are not intrested in how they feel and that is the very reason a server must take actions. You could be on your best behavior and still be cut off. Take a responsable alcohol course, you might actually learn a bit about the subject.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

To add the FA puts the entire a/c in jeopardy if he/she waits until someone becomes a problem. This is not a bar in which the bouncer can escort you out. Even a diverted flight can easily take an hour plus to land. Ultimately the FA has to make a judgement. If a pax begins to binge drink the FA has no way of knowing whether that person can handle it. Again given your in a metal tube 38,000 feet above Earth going 550 mph. If as an adult you can't stop yourself from binge drinking solely because the booze is free? Most disruptions on an a/c that involve either a diversion or police meeting the flight are alcohol related.