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"4 drinks is all we are allowed to serve on this flight"

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"4 drinks is all we are allowed to serve on this flight"

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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:20 am
  #1  
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"4 drinks is all we are allowed to serve on this flight"

Last night my "friend" was flying home after visiting me over the weekend in C+ on DL4700 MSP-MSO. She said a gentleman right in front of her in F rang the FA call button and asked for another drink well into the flight. That's when the FA said, "Sir, I'm sorry but four drinks is all we are allowed to serve on this flight". I guess she did find him another but is this just your typically FA lie or is there a DL mandated maximum drink limit per flight? It has seemed to me that there has been a quota on occasion over the past couple of years and far less FA activity in F in general. On the rare occasion lately, it seems like the old days where the FA can't get you enough to drink but I can only recall that happening twice in the past couple of years.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:26 am
  #2  
 
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I’ve heard stuff like that when FAs are cutting people off
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:30 am
  #3  
 
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'Typical FA Lie' makes it sound somewhat pernicious when she probably is worried more about what happens if the guy gets behind the wheel of a vehicle in a few minutes after landing.

I was on a LAX bound flight where many passengers in F were getting hammered on Woodford Reserve. It got pretty rowdy. I didn't care, but the FA actually apologized to me and said 'we are told to keep giving them drinks, but I know that several of them are going to rent cars and drive when we land. I am going to try to cut them off'.

It must put them in a difficult position on those flights.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:34 am
  #4  
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I agree it sounds like she's trying to tactfully cut him off. Maybe not alluding to made up policies would be better, but it's a difficult situation to be sure.

I've never had problems consuming inordinate amounts of alcohol on DL flights in any cabin
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:36 am
  #5  
 
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From the Holy book of the FAA, Chapter 121: Discuss amongst yourselves

§ 121.575 Alcoholic beverages.

(a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.

(b) No certificate holder may serve any alcoholic beverage to any person aboard any of its aircraft who -

(1) Appears to be intoxicated;

(2) Is escorting a person or being escorted in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.221; or

(3) Has a deadly or dangerous weapon accessible to him while aboard the aircraft in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.219, 1544.221, or 1544.223.

(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.

(d) Each certificate holder shall, within five days after the incident, report to the Administrator the refusal of any person to comply with paragraph (a) of this section, or of any disturbance caused by a person who appears to be intoxicated aboard any of its aircraft.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 9:37 am
  #6  
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Originally Posted by C W
I agree it sounds like she's trying to tactfully cut him off. Maybe not alluding to made up policies would be better, but it's a difficult situation to be sure.
I agree
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 10:14 am
  #7  
 
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That's a 2hr flight, 4 drinks is plenty

Sounds like she was trying to politely cut them off
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 10:19 am
  #8  
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I def had more than 4 drinks JFK-LAS in FC last week lol
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 11:39 am
  #9  
 
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Originally Posted by bitterproffit
'Typical FA Lie' makes it sound somewhat pernicious when she probably is worried more about what happens if the guy gets behind the wheel of a vehicle in a few minutes after landing.

I was on a LAX bound flight where many passengers in F were getting hammered on Woodford Reserve. It got pretty rowdy. I didn't care, but the FA actually apologized to me and said 'we are told to keep giving them drinks, but I know that several of them are going to rent cars and drive when we land. I am going to try to cut them off'.

It must put them in a difficult position on those flights.
Except what is happening after the flight if none of the FA's business. She is an employee serving a customer, not their mother.

I can't believe that she both knew - for a fact - which passengers were getting rentals - but then she communicated that to a third party who is another customer?

Totally unprofessional and a violation of another customer's privacy. I wouldn't want a FA sharing any info on the manifest with me with a stranger who is another customer!
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:15 pm
  #10  
 
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Originally Posted by btonkid12345
Except what is happening after the flight if none of the FA's business. She is an employee serving a customer, not their mother.

I can't believe that she both knew - for a fact - which passengers were getting rentals - but then she communicated that to a third party who is another customer?

Totally unprofessional and a violation of another customer's privacy. I wouldn't want a FA sharing any info on the manifest with me with a stranger who is another customer!
If I'm on a flight where I'll be driving shortly after I land, I would greatly appreciate any FAs that cutoff pax when they know that person will be driving. I really don't want to get on the road with any a******** that couldn't resist that one last drink. What happens after the flight is everyones business when a drunk moron gets behind the wheel. The FA has the same responsibility in this case as any bartender on the ground.

That said, any FA should know how to appropriately discuss this with the pax in question and not discuss it with anyone else.

Last edited by obscure2k; Nov 6, 2017 at 4:16 pm Reason: deleted masked obscenity
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:18 pm
  #11  
 
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I have had FA's ask me if I had a connection, or what my intended transportation method was after I left the flight. When I indicate cab/uber/hotel shuttle/friend, they are usually happy to let me continue drinking.

I totally get why. And totally understand why they cut someone off as well. Even if I can act/seem/portray myself as totally fine after 8 drinks, when my seat mate is obviously drunk after 3, I am still well over the legal limit, no matter how I can "handle" my alcohol.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:22 pm
  #12  
 
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Originally Posted by btonkid12345
Except what is happening after the flight if none of the FA's business. She is an employee serving a customer, not their mother.

I can't believe that she both knew - for a fact - which passengers were getting rentals - but then she communicated that to a third party who is another customer?

Totally unprofessional and a violation of another customer's privacy. I wouldn't want a FA sharing any info on the manifest with me with a stranger who is another customer!
We all knew they were getting rentals and driving out to Lancaster CA because the drunk idiots on the plane were yelling out about how far they had to drive and how drunk they were.

Its not always a vast conspiracy. Sometimes FA show concern for humanity.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:25 pm
  #13  
 
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I wonder if FAs are subject to the same laws (although these are usually state laws) about liability as bartenders. In a number of states, if the bartender does not cut the patron off after they become intoxicated, the bartender is liable for any injury or death resulting from the patron getting into an accident (for example). These are stupid, stupid laws, but exist nonetheless... just curious about if there are any applications to FA serving passengers flying across state lines.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:28 pm
  #14  
 
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Originally Posted by kb9522
I wonder if FAs are subject to the same laws (although these are usually state laws) about liability as bartenders. In a number of states, if the bartender does not cut the patron off after they become intoxicated, the bartender is liable for any injury or death resulting from the patron getting into an accident (for example). These are stupid, stupid laws, but exist nonetheless... just curious about if there are any applications to FA serving passengers flying across state lines.
To your point, if someone tells you that they are going to rent a car and drive 2 hours through LA traffic in the evening and you have served them enough drinks to know they are impaired, do you have a legal obligation? Or moral obligation? Even if you aren't their mother?
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 1:04 pm
  #15  
 
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Originally Posted by bitterproffit
To your point, if someone tells you that they are going to rent a car and drive 2 hours through LA traffic in the evening and you have served them enough drinks to know they are impaired, do you have a legal obligation? Or moral obligation? Even if you aren't their mother?

I mean, I would argue the moral obligation is irrelevant, but yes... those more ethical than I would ask that question regardless of the legalities. But that's more a philosophical discussion that requires a six pack of some adult beverages (ironically).
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