Southwest to bring back alcohol on flights

Passengers on Southwest flights who want to imbibe mid-flight will soon be able to do so once again.

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The airline announced that beer, wine and hard liquor will once again be served on board flights starting on Feb. 16, CNN reported.

The drinks will cost $6 or $7, and the airline will honor free drink coupons that expired in 2020 and 2021, USA Today reported.

It will also offer some other drinks such as hot tea, hot cocoa, tonic water and apple juice.

Southwest stopped alcohol service on flights in March 2020 and was the first to do so, according to the newspaper.

Alcohol will only be available on flights of 176 miles or more, CNN reported.

“Customers have expressed a desire for more beverage options, so we’re delighted to restore additional on-board offerings as a part of the Southwest hospitality that our customers know and love,” Tony Roach, vice president of Southwest customer experience and customer relations, said in the news release, according to CNN.

The move leaves American Airlines as the only large U.S. air carrier to not resume alcohol service in the main cabin, USA Today reported. The company said they are evaluating the situation and working with the flight attendant union to come up with a date to bring back alcohol for passengers in the main area of the plane.

United Airlines started selling alcohol in November.

Delta Airlines allowed sales to First Class and Delta Comfort+ domestic passengers in July 2020, and in the main cabin on some domestic flights in April 2021.

Alcohol has been cited as one of the causes of bad behavior by passengers.

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed stiff fines for passengers who part of alcohol-related incidents. The fines could total as much as $161,823.

Last year was the worst for unruly passenger behavior, the FAA said, according to CNN.

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