Contrary to popular belief, there's no evidence that drinking at higher altitudes — particularly planes — gets you drunk faster.
What's False: Drinking alcohol at altitude does not affect the concentration of alcohol in your blood anymore than it does at sea-level, as this Austrian study notes. The FAA has also conducted numerous studies, further backing this evidence.
“You don't get drunk any faster at high altitude,” says Peter Hackett, the doctor who runs the Institute for Altitude Medicine in Telluride. “The blood alcohol level's the same for the same amount of alcohol.”
"This decreased pressure means that the body finds it harder to absorb oxygen - this can produce light-headedness or hypoxia. "In other words, the lower level of oxygen in your blood means that you may seem more drunk in the air than you would on the ground after consuming the same amount of alcohol.
A more conservative approach is to wait 24 hours from the last use of alcohol before flying. This is especially true if intoxication occurred or if you plan to fly IFR. Cold showers, drinking black coffee, or breathing 100% oxygen cannot speed up the elimination of alcohol from the body.
But what's going on? Dr Clare Morrison, from online doctor MedExpress, explained that we sometimes feel more drunk on a plane than on land, despite consuming the same volume of alcohol – and it's all to do with air pressure. “When on a plane, the barometric pressure in the cabin of a plane is lower than it normally is.
Since the TSA does not conduct alcohol testing, you may get past the TSA, even if you are drunk. However, if you are visibly inebriated, the airport police could arrest or cite you for public intoxication.
Alcohol between 24% - 70% ABV (48 – 140 proof): For carry-on, same rules apply as above. You are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that fit in your quart-sized bag. For checked bags you are limited to five liters per passenger.
During a woman's menstrual cycle, prostaglandins trigger contractions in the female's uterine muscle. The higher levels of prostaglandins can cause more extreme menstrual cramps. Alcohol increases prostaglandin levels, worsening period cramps.
In a series of studies for the Federal Aviation Administration, scientists simulated the effects of altitude, performing blood alcohol tests on groups of subjects who drank under ground-level and high-altitude conditions. They found no difference.
This is a very widely held urban myth. Residents of Denver, Colorado (1600m), will tell you that one drink in Denver is the same as two in Chicago (179m). However, the research is against it. Numerous studies have shown that altitude has no effect on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Alcohol will not impact your body any differently at high altitude than it would at sea level, but at high altitudes, someone whose body has not had time to acclimate to the reduced oxygen and humidity levels is less ably equipped to effectively process alcohol.
Having a wee tipple on a flight can do wonders for the nerves. Alcohol is a sedative and a depressant, which (in moderation) can help calm the central nervous system. Similarly, other forms of sedatives can help.
Permitted in checked baggage
Permitted as carry-on or checked baggage. Alcoholic beverages must be in retail packaging and a maximum net total of 5L per person is permitted. The alcohol must not be more than 70% alcohol by volume and consumption of alcohol carried on board is not permitted on the aircraft.
For alcohol that's under 24% ABV, you can pack as much as you want in your checked luggage. If you're carrying alcohol that has an ABV of 24% to 70%, there's a limit of 5 liters per passenger. Any alcohol that's over 70% ABV is not allowed in your carry-on or checked luggage in any quantities.
Up to 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages (liquor, wine and champagne) per adult (passenger must be 18 years or over) can be brought into Australia duty-free. All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in this category. Please be reminded that alcohol is subject to liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) restrictions.
“Airplanes keep the cabin pressure about 4 percent lower than normal pressure at sea level, which slightly lowers oxygen intake,” he explains. “With that dip in oxygen for fuel, the brain is more susceptible to the effects of certain substances like alcohol, and so people can feel more buzzed sooner with a drink.”
Consequences of Flying Drunk
So what happens when a pilot is arrested for flying under the influence? If a pilot is discovered to have a BAC of 0.04 or more, the FAA can have the pilot's license suspended for a year or place criminal charges, even if they haven't taken off in an aircraft.
Permanent License Revocation
If the investigators conclude that the pilot was intoxicated prior to a flight, the FAA will typically revoke the pilot's license permanently. Long story short: the result of an investigation into drinking before a flight is typically career-ending.
The stress of a pilot's job is a major contributor to a pilot's potential addiction to drugs or alcohol. Trying to stay awake during long flights or trying to sleep in between flights, a pilot may turn to stimulants or sedatives. These drugs, including amphetamines, can cause a dependency that turns into an addiction.
People consistently rated tomato juice as tasting better in the fake airplane than in a normal environment.