Thursday 07 May 2026 10:37 am Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has clashed with Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary over calls for airports to crack down on early morning drinking. The dispute reignites a long-standing debate between the two industry figures, who previously clashed on the same issue in 2024.
Tim Martin Criticizes 'Big Brother' Approach
Tim Martin, chair of JD Wetherspoon, the UK's best-known pub chain, has spoken out against regulating alcohol consumption at airports, describing it as a 'Big Brother' approach that could lead to passengers being breathalysed. He argued that any limit on drinking would be extraordinarily difficult to enforce effectively.
'It is in everyone's interests to have good behaviour at airports and on flights,' Martin said. '[But] a two-drink limit would be extraordinarily difficult to implement, short of breathalysing passengers, and would, in our opinion, be an overreaction — especially since many of the problems stem from incoming flights.'
Ryanair's Concerns Over Disorderly Passengers
Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, had earlier called on airports to ban the sale of pints before early-morning flights, claiming that his airline is forced to make flight diversions almost daily due to the disorderly behaviour of drunken passengers. Speaking to the Times earlier this week, O'Leary said: 'It's becoming a real challenge for all airlines. I fail to understand why anybody in airports bars is serving people at five or six o'clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?'
The Ryanair chief executive accused airports of 'profiteering' from disorderly behaviour that causes havoc for airlines and other passengers. 'The ones who are profiteering off it are the airports who have these bars open at five or six o'clock in the morning and during delays are quite happy to send these people as much alcohol as they want,' he added.
Wetherspoon Defends Its Airport Pubs
JD Wetherspoon operates large pubs at popular UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. The chain has sought to counter perceptions that it profits from drunken behaviour, stating that food, soft drinks, tea, and coffee account for two-thirds of sales at its airport pubs. According to Wetherspoon, a 'significant proportion' of alcoholic drinks ordered in airports come with a meal, and imposing limits would push passengers to buy drinks at off-licences or supermarkets before their arrival.
Political Reaction
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden described the proposals to limit drinking as 'slightly draconian'. He remarked: 'There is something peculiarly British about the tradition of having a pint at 6am when waiting for your Ryanair flight.'
This is not the first clash between Tim Martin and Michael O'Leary over airport pints, as the pair last came to blows on the issue in 2024. The debate continues to divide opinion on how best to balance passenger enjoyment with safety and order at airports.
