Ryanair Wants Less Alcohol at Airports
Ryanair Wants Less Alcohol at Airports
Introduction
Michael O'Leary is the boss of Ryanair. He wants airports to stop selling alcohol early in the morning. He thinks this will stop passengers from behaving badly.
Main Body
Many passengers are now angry or loud on planes. One Ryanair flight every day must change its path because of this. Mr. O'Leary says airports sell too much alcohol. He thinks airports make money, but the airline has the problems. Ryanair wants new rules. They want airports to have a two-drink limit. Now, Ryanair is taking bad passengers to court. They want passengers to pay money for the problems they cause. Some people do not agree. They say drinking at the airport is a normal habit. Other people think Ryanair wants passengers to buy drinks on the plane instead. They say staff should just check passengers more carefully at the gate.
Conclusion
Ryanair and airports do not agree. Ryanair will continue to ask for new rules and take bad passengers to court.
Learning
💡 The 'Want' Pattern
In this story, we see a very useful word for A2 students: Want.
We use want to talk about things we desire or goals we have. Look at how it changes based on who is talking:
- One person (He/She/Ryanair): Add an 's' He wants, Ryanair wants.
- Many people (They/We): No 's' They want.
🛠️ Making a Request
When you want someone else to do something, the pattern is: [Person A] wants [Person B] to [Action]
- Example: He wants airports to stop selling alcohol.
- Example: They want passengers to pay money.
📝 Useful A2 Vocabulary from the text
| Word | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Behave badly | To act in a way that is not nice |
| Limit | A maximum amount (e.g., only 2 drinks) |
| Court | The place where a judge decides if someone broke the law |
| Habit | Something you do often/regularly |
Vocabulary Learning
Ryanair Proposes Limits on Airport Alcohol Sales
Introduction
Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, has called for a ban on alcohol sales at airports during the early morning to reduce the number of disruptive passengers.
Main Body
This proposal is based on a reported increase in bad passenger behavior, which has caused about one Ryanair flight per day to be diverted. This is a significant increase compared to ten years ago. Mr. O'Leary emphasized that current UK laws allow airport bars to sell alcohol outside of standard hours, which makes it easier for passengers to become drunk before boarding. He asserted that airports are making profits while the airlines have to deal with the resulting behavioral problems. To solve these issues, the Ryanair executive suggests introducing standard licensing hours and a two-drink limit at airport bars. Although being drunk on a plane is already a crime that can lead to fines or prison, the airline is now taking more legal action. For example, in January 2025, Ryanair started legal proceedings to recover money from disruptive passengers, including a claim for 15,000 euros for a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote. However, critics argue that drinking before a flight is a common cultural habit. Some observers suggest that Ryanair may be trying to increase its own onboard sales by limiting airport options. Furthermore, they argue that stricter screenings by airline staff during boarding could prevent intoxicated people from flying without needing a total ban on airport services.
Conclusion
The situation remains a conflict between the operational needs of the airline and the current licensing rules of airports, with Ryanair using both public advocacy and legal action to address the problem.
Learning
🚀 The 'Power-Up' Move: Moving from Simple to Sophisticated
An A2 student says: "The CEO says alcohol is a problem."
To hit B2, you need to use Reporting Verbs. Instead of using "say" for everything, you describe how someone is speaking. Look at these three distinct moves from the text:
1. The Strong Claim "He asserted that..." Use assert when someone is stating a fact confidently, especially during an argument. It sounds much more professional than "said."
2. The Highlight "Mr. O'Leary emphasized that..." Use emphasize when the speaker wants to make sure you notice a specific, important point. It's like putting a highlighter pen on a sentence.
3. The Suggestion "The executive suggests..." Use suggest when proposing a solution. Notice the structure: Suggest + [verb-ing] or Suggest + [that].
🛠️ Quick Upgrade Table
| A2 Level (Basic) | B2 Level (Bridge) | Context in Article |
|---|---|---|
| Says | Asserts | Challenging airport profits |
| Says | Emphasizes | Highlighting UK law gaps |
| Thinks/Says | Suggests | Proposing a 2-drink limit |
💡 Pro Tip: The 'Cause and Effect' Connection
B2 speakers don't just list facts; they link them. Instead of using "and" or "so," try the phrase "resulting in" or "lead to."
- A2: Passengers drink and then they are bad. B2: Alcohol sales lead to behavioral problems.
- A2: The flight changed direction. B2: Behavior caused the flight to be diverted.
Vocabulary Learning
Ryanair Proposal for the Restriction of Pre-Flight Alcohol Consumption at Airports
Introduction
Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, has advocated for the prohibition of alcohol sales at airports during early morning hours to mitigate passenger misconduct.
Main Body
The proposal is predicated upon a reported escalation in disruptive passenger behavior, which has necessitated the diversion of approximately one Ryanair flight per day—a marked increase from the weekly average recorded a decade prior. Mr. O'Leary contends that the current regulatory framework in the United Kingdom, which exempts airside establishments from standard licensing hour restrictions, facilitates the intoxication of passengers prior to boarding. He characterizes this as a form of institutional profiteering, asserting that airports externalize the resulting behavioral challenges to the airlines. To address these systemic issues, the Ryanair executive suggests the implementation of standard licensing hours and the introduction of a two-drink limit at airport venues, aligning such practices with the airline's internal policies. While the legal framework already classifies intoxication on an aircraft as a criminal offense—punishable by fines up to £5,000 and a maximum two-year custodial sentence—the airline has shifted toward a more litigious strategy. In January 2025, Ryanair initiated legal proceedings to recover financial losses from disruptive passengers, including a specific claim for 15,000 euros regarding a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote. Conversely, critics of the proposal argue that the consumption of alcohol prior to departure is a deeply ingrained cultural norm. Some observers suggest that the airline's focus on airport sales may be a strategic attempt to increase onboard revenue by redirecting consumer demand toward the airline's own beverage services. Furthermore, it has been posited that more rigorous boarding screenings by airline personnel could potentially mitigate the presence of intoxicated individuals on aircraft without necessitating a broader ban on airport services.
Conclusion
The current situation remains a conflict between airline operational requirements and existing airport licensing liberties, with Ryanair pursuing both regulatory advocacy and direct legal action against offenders.
Learning
The Architecture of Nominalization and Semantic Density
To bridge the gap from B2 to C2, one must move beyond describing actions and begin conceptualizing states. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) and adjectives (qualities) into nouns. This is the hallmark of academic and high-level bureaucratic English, as it allows for a higher density of information and a detached, objective tone.
⚡ The 'C2 Pivot': From Event to Concept
Observe the shift in the text. A B2 student might write: "Passengers are behaving more disruptively, which means Ryanair has to divert more flights."
The C2 Version: "The proposal is predicated upon a reported escalation in disruptive passenger behavior, which has necessitated the diversion of..."
What happened here?
- Escalation (Noun) replaces "behaving more" (Verb phrase).
- Diversion (Noun) replaces "have to divert" (Verb phrase).
By transforming the action into a noun, the writer creates a 'concept' that can then be modified by precise adjectives ("reported escalation"). This is not merely "fancy vocabulary"; it is a strategic move to shift the focus from the people to the phenomenon.
🖋️ Analytical Deep-Dive: The Logic of 'Externalization'
Consider the phrase: "...airports externalize the resulting behavioral challenges to the airlines."
This is a sophisticated use of a technical term from economics (externalities) applied to a social context. Instead of saying "airports make the airlines deal with the problems," the author uses externalize. This verb functions as a linguistic bridge, suggesting a systemic transfer of cost or burden. At C2, your goal is to use verbs that encapsulate entire socio-economic processes.
🧩 Syntactic Weight Distribution
Notice the use of participial phrases to compress information:
"...punishable by fines up to £5,000 and a maximum two-year custodial sentence—the airline has shifted toward a more litigious strategy."
In lower levels, this would be two or three separate sentences. C2 mastery involves "stacking" information using em-dashes and appositives, creating a flow where the evidence (the fines) leads directly into the strategic conclusion (the litigious approach) without breaking the narrative momentum.