Pilots’ View Of Airport Drink

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 12

Pilots’ View Of Airport Drink

WELLINGTON, August 5. The New Zealand Airline Pilots’ Association wishes to be dissociated from organisations or persons who may quote-the association as being-opposed to the granting of liquor licences at airports. “It has come to our atten don that at least one organisaion is ouoting th ; s w«mion as being so opnosM. the secretary (Can»’in J. W Dick inson) said tod»v. “The association wishes to be dissociated from or can rations or nersons making such statements, as they are incor-

rect in fact and misrepresent the policy of the association on this question,” he said. “We have been asked bj a number of local auhorities for our views on the sale of liquor at airports in New Zealand. “Two matters are of vital concern to pilots. The first is the intoxicated passenger arriving at the airport when a disruption is in progress giving the opportunity for more 'iquor to be consumed. “The second relates to the airport bar becoming a convenient and fashionable place »o have a party with the attendant nuisance to passengers and possibly dangerous

'N Z Press Association) behaviour through over-indul-gence on the part of certain individuals,” he said. “These views have been

communicated to certain airport authorities who have assured us that drinking will be very carefully controlled and that these two dangers would be - minimised to negligible proportions by the following restrictions: “Liquor would only be served to seated patrons. There would be no bar as such. “Liquor would be dispensed only by a steward. The loading on the price of liquor because of the service charges would make it most unlikely that people would go to the airport for the purpose of having a party and “The loading on the price of have the right of refusal to serve a patron who was considered to have over-indulged.

“While the captain has the inalienable right to reject any passenger who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and likely to become a nuisance, pilots would rather the intoxicated customer did not get as far as the aircraft before being refused travel. “If a bar is provided at airport terminals extra vigilance on the part of traffic staff would be required to screen out drunkards. “Provided we have assurance that these dangers are realised and carefully controlled no opposition will be forthcoming from this associa-. tion on the sale of liquor at New Zealand airports. “Indeed, it is a recognised and accepted facility for the travelling public at airports overseas,” said Captain Dickinson.