PHUKET: With the behavior of Russian visitors a major talking point on Phuket, Russia may soon crack down on boozy flights after a spate of brawls involving drunken passengers.
The incident that could trigger the change in approach came after a flight bound for Thailand made a forced landing in Uzbekistan on Sunday.
State television in Russia broadcast amateur footage of several drink-soaked punch-ups after a Russian passenger on the plane attacked other passengers.
The footage included shots of a man butting a steward during one flight and a fight among passengers queuing for the toilet during another, the Reuters news agency reported.
In a third incident, a man was tied to his seat and his mouth taped shut after passengers got fed up with him.
A senior member of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, said the assembly could soon draw up legislation to ban duty-free liquor and cigarettes being brought on board planes, even in sealed bags.
''We would like to prepare it (the legislation) before the end of this session,'' Interfax news agency quoted Vitaly Yefimov, the first deputy chairman of the Duma's transport committee, as saying.
''Changes are needed to end such uproar on planes. It's a direct threat to flight security,'' he said, without giving any other details of the Duma's plans.
Russian television said that only in one recent case had a Russian passenger faced criminal charges for violent behavior on board a plane. Several others had been fined, it said.
Flights on Russian airlines are generally much more comfortable these days than in Soviet times, when passengers often had to fight their way to the front or back of the plane through thick cigarette smoke.
But alcohol consumption per capita in Russia is the fourth highest in the world, according to World Health organisation figures for 2011, and passengers often enjoy an onboard tipple.
On Phuket, reports that Russians are visiting in increasing numbers has stimulated debate about whether Russians are generally ruder than other tourists or should be treated as individuals, like all other visitors.
The debate about the behavior of Russian tourists comes amid concerns raised by Phuket taxi drivers and other tourism-related businesses that Russian operators are undercutting their markets.
Russian politicians are considering a complete ban on duty-free alcohol on flights after a spate of brawls involving drunken passengers.
http://media.theage.com.au/news/world-news/russia-looks-to-ban-booze-on-flights-4007046.html
The incident that could trigger the change in approach came after a flight bound for Thailand made a forced landing in Uzbekistan on Sunday.
State television in Russia broadcast amateur footage of several drink-soaked punch-ups after a Russian passenger on the plane attacked other passengers.
The footage included shots of a man butting a steward during one flight and a fight among passengers queuing for the toilet during another, the Reuters news agency reported.
In a third incident, a man was tied to his seat and his mouth taped shut after passengers got fed up with him.
A senior member of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, said the assembly could soon draw up legislation to ban duty-free liquor and cigarettes being brought on board planes, even in sealed bags.
''We would like to prepare it (the legislation) before the end of this session,'' Interfax news agency quoted Vitaly Yefimov, the first deputy chairman of the Duma's transport committee, as saying.
''Changes are needed to end such uproar on planes. It's a direct threat to flight security,'' he said, without giving any other details of the Duma's plans.
Russian television said that only in one recent case had a Russian passenger faced criminal charges for violent behavior on board a plane. Several others had been fined, it said.
Flights on Russian airlines are generally much more comfortable these days than in Soviet times, when passengers often had to fight their way to the front or back of the plane through thick cigarette smoke.
But alcohol consumption per capita in Russia is the fourth highest in the world, according to World Health organisation figures for 2011, and passengers often enjoy an onboard tipple.
On Phuket, reports that Russians are visiting in increasing numbers has stimulated debate about whether Russians are generally ruder than other tourists or should be treated as individuals, like all other visitors.
The debate about the behavior of Russian tourists comes amid concerns raised by Phuket taxi drivers and other tourism-related businesses that Russian operators are undercutting their markets.
Russia looks to ban booze on flights
Russian politicians are considering a complete ban on duty-free alcohol on flights after a spate of brawls involving drunken passengers.
http://media.theage.com.au/news/world-news/russia-looks-to-ban-booze-on-flights-4007046.html
Well it's good to see that the Russian government is addressing the 'Russian' problem. The main issue is that after many decades of rigid state control, this new breed of liberated Russian simply does not know how to handle their new freedoms. They have money to spend & are being given cut price holidays fueled by cut price alcohol. It's a question of education & control & clearly the State Duma recognizes this.
Posted by Logic on February 5, 2013 13:43