I witnessed slurs, abuse and a fight mid-air during my long-haul flight to Jamaica - alcohol should be restricted, not free and unlimited

I hadn’t realised before the flight that alcoholic drinks would be unlimited and free. It seemed like a recipe for disaster when I was told as I have written many stories about planes being diverted due to drunken behaviour from people on board.

I didn’t think anything would happen on this flight to Jamaica, but I was wrong. The people behind me enjoyed a few drinks and started to become rowdy mid-flight, talking loudly, shouting, making noises. Others too, who had enjoyed a drink, got up in the aisles and were speaking to the passengers behind me.

I could hear one of the women continually asking for more drink - Bacardi specifically - and becoming louder and louder. It was quite hard to enjoy a film with all of the commotion going on behind me. Despite the woman clearly getting more and more drunk she was still plied with more alcohol. I think it should have been limited at this point but, of course, then the cabin crew are in another difficult position as the woman could have been angered if they refused her more.

The unlimited and free alcohol is bizarre for a flight. Situations like this annoy other passengers and make them fear the plane is going to be diverted. It is happening more often - and gives cabin crew even more stress and work to do. As the woman was given more alcohol, I could hear her travelling companion say that she needed to stop with the drink now as she was “becoming embarrassing”. This was very loud for those around to hear.

I believe it was family sitting together - the nan and granddaughter becoming angry with each other. With more and more drink, it all started to get very out of hand. The woman hurled abuse at the younger girl who repeatedly told her to be quiet. It went on for ages. What was being said was awful to listen to - including the girl accusing the woman of being racist.

As I was stood in the aisle to stretch my legs the woman was looking at me while complaining about the younger girl - and I tried my best not to give eye contact. Then as I sat down, with my friend in the toilet and the passenger next to me gone to stretch his legs, the pair started at each other again with the insults for everyone to hear.

It escalated to a physical fight with one of the air stewards having to get involved and the girl screaming for the woman to get away from her as she had too much Bacardi. The woman was taken away to a seat further back in the plane where two cabin crew were trying to calm her down and help with her breathing. When the woman came back, the arguing continued with her shouting about having a black eye and cuts to her face.

At first I thought the altercation was quite entertaining until it became annoying and then worrying as we didn’t want it to cause the plane to divert. Then it made me think of alcohol on flights - and why on earth it is all free and unlimited. It is great for those who want a drink - and can handle their drink. But for those who can’t, the free alcohol offering is just there to be abused.

There needs to be tougher regulations on drink and not an unlimited amount. I would say cabin crew need to be tougher when someone seems drunk and not give them any more - but that is unfair on them as the rule puts them in a difficult position. The person is already drunk and refusing could lead to another bad situation. There should be a limit on the free drinks to stop arguments and fights like this from happening. It ruins the journey for a lot of people and causes unnecessary stress for the crew and the passengers.

I really feel for those whose flights have been diverted or disrupted due to a fight or drunken behaviour. There needs to be stricter limits on alcohol so it’s not abused and everyone onboard can enjoy their flight.