Can you go to jail for getting drunk at Birmingham Airport?

Earlier this week, two men were arrested for being drunk at Birmingham Airport.

Birmingham Airport police tweeted on Tuesday morning (17 January) that two passengers had been arrested for their conduct at the airport. The tweet read: “Two arrests through the night for passengers being drunk at the airport.

“Please drink responsibly while at the airport... Don’t swap your nice hotel for our custody cell.”

Many people enjoy a pre-holiday beverage at the airport, but you need to be careful as going overboard on the booze could actually land you in jail.

Is it illegal to be drunk at Birmingham Airport?

Being drunk at an airport is not a crime itself, but acts of drunkenness on an aircraft is a crime - and you could face a maximum fine of £5,000 and even two years in prison.

Cabin crew even have the right to refuse to serve alcohol to any passenger and airlines have the right to refuse to carry passengers if they think they’re a potential risk.

If a plane has taken off it could land early an passengers can be escorted off by police.

Has any one been arrested for being drunk on a flight from Birmingham Airport before?

As reported by the Daily Mail in March 2022, an ex restaurant boss got so drunk on a Jet2 flight from Birmingham Airport from Turkey that he vomited over himself.

The 49-year-old threw up during the trip on October 19 2021, Birmingham Crown Court heard. He preiously ran the Italian Cielo in Brindleyplace and was jailed for three months for the incident.

And back in May 2022, A passenger from Sandwell who was drunk onboard a plane and abusive to passengers and crew was been fined after pleading guilty in court.

The 25-year-old was on a flight from Turkey to Birmingham Airport on Tuesday, 10 May with his family. West Midlands Police said he was abusive towards other passengers and staff and refused to follow their safety instructions.

Once the plane landed at Birmingham Airport, officers boarded the plane and arrested him. He was later charged with boarding an aircraft while drunk.

Last Wednesday (25 May) at Coventry Magistrates Court, the man pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000.