Drinking and traveling go together like gin and tonic (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
No matter how abstemious Americans may be at home, the prospect of going on a trip seems to loosen their inhibitions a bit – or a lot – when it comes to drinking. That’s according to a new survey from Cheapflights.com that asked 1,000 respondents about their drinking practices at airports and on the plane.
As you might expect, the survey found that a traveler’s inclination to imbibe depends in part on where she’s from. According to the poll, 53 percent of those from western states and 51 percent from the east coast said they drink when they travel. By contrast, only 43 percent of Midwesterners said the same. TAKE OUR POLL BELOW!
How do travelers spend time at the airport when they’re faced with a long layover? Just over one-third of the respondents said that situation will send them to the airport bar.
The proportion of drinkers bumps up to 37 percent on their flights – although the survey found that one-fifth of its respondents only do so when the drinks are free. (Speaking of spending money on drinks, seven percent of the respondents admitted that when they go on vacation, they spend more on alcohol than on food.)
Related: Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water
Drinking on trips varies by area of residence. (Image: Cheapflights.com)
And what do Americans drink when they travel? Forty-eight percent of men said they prefer beer, while women were divided between cocktails (28 percent) and wine (26 percent).
The survey didn’t ask subjects exactly how much they pour back on their trips, but we’ve seen plenty of evidence from the evening news that overindulgence can be a big contributor to air rage, in-cabin misbehavior and even diverted flights. One in five of the men surveyed said that they had been intoxicated at the airport or on a plane, while 11 percent of women admitted the same.
And it could be a hair of the dog situation 🙂 , but six percent of the respondents conceded that they have had their first drink before 8 a.m. during a trip (11 percent of men and 2 percent of women). I’m always surprised to see folks kicking back the vodkas on those early flights… but who am I to judge?
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In my youth, I made the mistake of drinking on my 1st trip to Tokyo from Atlanta. Jet lag/hangover took days to get over. On subsequent trips, I abstained and jet lag lasted only about a day. (Getting out in the sun the 1st day in country also helped with the jet lag.)
Airlines have been getting stricter about not drinking your own booze on flights. I understand that when they are trying to sell you their booze on-board, but not otherwise.
Sure alcohol dehydrates you but that is easily solved by drinking water as well. Just like in a bar, order a glass of water with every alco drink.
Agree with you about airport bars – too expensive to drink enough to give you a buzz. Lounges are another matter of course.
I’d guess a significant part of the cost of a business class international flight is providing unlimited free booze so you might as well enjoy it.
I’ll remember that. My wife and I love gin.
Hey Jeff: I’ve gotten into trouble in the Gin Bar at the InterConti Park Lane. A great spot! 🙂
My wife and I went to London last year for a friend of ours daughter. We stayed in the Intercontinental Park Lane. We get club access. We also tried to see if we could drink all of the champagne the Intercontinental had during there “Happy Hour” in the lounge!!!
Thanks, Ric! Have fun over there. I’m not much of a beer drinker, but always enjoy a nice cold and unusual one when in Europe! And I’ve cut way back on the booze in recent years….just not worth the toll it takes on the body…and sleep cycle. Enjoy your trip!
In the years I regularly traveled over 100,000 miles I slowly learned that drinking is much harder on my body when combined with the normal physical dehydration from long haul flights. I stopped drinking alcohol on planes, even when the alcohol was free. I might have one beer on some flights.
I rarely buy alcohol at an airport since I won’t pay the exorbitant prices at airport bars.
Just returned to my hotel tonight from a pub in Levoca, Slovakia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval town center. Paid 1.00 EUR for 0.5L Saris draught beer. One of the best tasting beers I have found since being in Slovakia past six days.
I am drinking more beer here in Slovakia than when I am at home, but paying less in a pub than the cost for a bottle of Stella Artois at California Costco prices when I buy a case of beer.
Sure when younger would go for it. Trip overseas with co-worker (in coach), he brought bottle of vodka. Finished it before halfway to Singapore. FA’s were nice about bringing mixers too.
Maybe have wine now. Past that.