Wetherspoons drink ban

Sir Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, has rejected calls from Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary for a two-drink limit at airport bars, stating there have been no complaints about Wetherspoons' alcohol sales practices in recent years. Martin emphasized that his pubs no longer serve shots and have removed promotions like two-for-one offers to promote responsible drinking. In contrast, O’Leary argues that incidents of drunken behavior on flights are increasing, particularly at airports like Liverpool and Manchester, and that stricter controls are necessary. He highlighted the difficulty for airlines in identifying inebriated passengers at boarding gates. Wetherspoons has seen only a third of its sales at airports come from alcohol, with coffee and food also making significant contributions. Both sides acknowledge the issue of alcohol-related disturbances on flights, but they differ on the approach to managing it.