Is it no longer fashionable to drink on airplanes?

Has the appeal of drinking on aircraft diminished? Here, we examine the reasons why travelers are less inclined to consume alcohol when flying.

Holidays are always reason to celebrate. It's a symbol of freedom, a time when there are no obligations, jobs, or administrative duties—a vital diversion from daily life. However, the sheer excitement of getting on a plane and beginning your journey is sometimes matched with a certain amount of expectation—an unwritten rule that you need to be having fun as soon as possible. "When in Rome" is greeted with a smile and a poke as the drinks cart rattles down the aisle, while "start as you mean to go on" is the quintessential British rally cry while traveling overseas.

Due to the exclusive nature of commercial flights in the 1950s and 1960s, anyone who could afford to do so would schedule flights to far-off places and crack open bottles of Champagne to start their vacation as early as possible.

"The whole idea was glamorized when flying was first made available to the general public because it was only accessible to the wealthy," says Joy Skipper, a nutritionist and food writer. Simultaneously, drinking and smoking were also seen as glamorous.

With the emergence of low-cost carriers and the increasing popularity of flying, aviation's opulent appeal gradually faded. However, the perception of drinking and flying persisted—a holdover from the Golden Age. According to Joy, "drinking is often considered a "reward" while traveling by aircraft. "Especially when there's a free drink!"

But there seems to have been a noticeable shift in views lately about alcohol use on flights. The response to my question about drinking on flights among a group of travel editors was a loud "no."

Sarah James, deputy digital editor at Condé Nast Traveler, says, "I love the idea of ordering a drink on a plane – in my head, I'm in Mad Men, sipping a Manhattan through a a cut-crystal tumbler while I soar above the clouds." But I've come to realize that drinking is really more like putting a dash of cheap wine in a plastic cup and then dumping it all over myself, which will leave me bloated and dehydrated. It lacks glamor, therefore I usually stay away from it entirely.

This shift in perspective may be partially attributed to the emergence of our collective "wellness eras." Individuals are becoming more conscious of how they treat their bodies as well as themselves. Nutritionist and consultant dermatologist Dr. Thivi Maruthappu tells us, "I've definitely noticed an upward trend away from drinking alcohol in my patients, both on and off the plane." "We are much more aware of the after-effects of alcohol on our skin and mental health, as well as how it makes us feel."

According to Joy, there has been a noticeable change in how people interact with alcohol since the launch of the Dry January campaign in 2013. According to her, "the campaign enabled people to think about how much drinking they do and the impact that has on their health." The quantity of no-low alcohol beverages on the market has increased by 7% since then. John Lewis reports that 47% of adult UK consumers alternate between alcoholic and low- or alcohol-free beverages at the same time.

Flying itself has a noticeable physical cost on the body. We feel more bloated in the air, our hands, ankles, and cheeks get puffy, and we even weep more readily and have more emotional volatility while flying. The need to counter and avoid these consequences grows along with study and awareness of the impacts of flight on human bodies.

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"We are becoming more conscious of how dehydrating flying can be. Because of the dry cabin air, it's critical to stay hydrated. We can do this by following our in-flight beauty regimen and consuming plenty of water, advises Dr. Thivi. The craving for alcohol on a flight has decreased as a result. It dehydrates you, and after a flight, the consequences of a hangover may be more noticeable. I think alcohol is bad for the skin because it causes tension, which may contribute to redness, dryness, and even breakouts.

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Joy concurs. "As the wellness sector expands, people are able to make better decisions about what and how much they drink because they are more aware of the negative effects of alcohol."

"The body's inability to properly absorb, digest, and use nutrients due to alcohol metabolism can result in deficiencies and other health issues," the author adds. When alcohol is broken down in the liver, toxins are produced that may harm liver cells and interfere with other nutrients' regular metabolism.

The air pressure in the cabin of an aircraft at altitude is probably going to be lower than usual, which means that your blood and brain will have less oxygen in them. As a result, the alcohol's effects might be felt stronger than usual.

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Travelers' judgments are being influenced by the development of new smart technologies as well as a growing understanding of the negative effects of alcohol on our health. According to Dr. Thivi, "wearable smart technology shows us the impact of alcohol on our sleep." "I've had a drink or two, and I know from my Oura ring that my sleep scores won't be the best." People are less inclined to drink more than is required when they can see the consequences of alcohol in action; it's difficult to ignore the negative effects of alcohol when you can see them occurring to your body right before your eyes.

Age may also influence how we feel about drinking on airplanes. We have discovered the hard way that the less capable our bodies are of recovering after excessive drinking, the less inclined we are to partake in the activity. We have learnt our lessons after being too enthusiastic on a plane and arriving at our destination feeling a little worse for wear.

As we age, this becomes especially important for women. "Many women may notice that their ability to handle alcohol is diminished during the perimenopause," Dr. Thivi says. As a result, people often cut down on their consumption.

There could also be a connection between the shift in perceptions about alcohol intake during flight and the rise in reports of intoxicated and unruly behavior aboard aircraft. Joy informs us, "The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reports that there was a 100% increase in disruptive passengers from 2015 to 2016, affecting 418 flights." The most frequent reason for disruptions during flight is alcohol. While some see their vacation as beginning at the airport, these interruptions may have caused others to reconsider whether drinking is necessary while traveling.

Of course, there are still occasions when raising a toast to new experiences or celebrating a birthday while cruising through the clouds is the perfect way to have a celebratory drink aloft. There's still something very strange about clinking glasses at 38,000 feet. Furthermore, if you are upgraded to business class, you can always make an exception since nobody can turn down a complimentary glass of champagne. However, there has been a noticeable change in how travelers feel about drinking on airplanes; it's just not as hip as it used to be.