Pre take off alcohol

[chrisp1983]

Hi, currently sitting on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson waiting to depart for Heathrow.

I’m in business and have been told it is illegal to serve champagne before take off from the US (not flying from the US but let’s put that to one side). Is this true? I didn’t have this a couple of months ago coming back from Montreal – any thoughts?
Thanks.

[MrWhite]

I’m not sure about it being illegal, but some don’t serve alcohol pre-departure due to alcoholic drinks being taxable whilst on the ground.

[TGLoyalty]

It would be illegal to serve it if the tax hasn’t been paid on it.

So not illegal to serve alcohol but rather illegal to serve the non tax paid alcohol they have.

[NickBS]

Just to confirm, I fly the LHR/YYZ route almost weekly for work and I’ve always been offered a pre-departure champagne/sparkling wine so it’s not the norm to be in that situation.

[AFKAE]

NickBS wrote:

Just to confirm, I fly the LHR/YYZ route almost weekly for work and I’ve always been offered a pre-departure champagne/sparkling wine so it’s not the norm to be in that situation.

Crikey, that’s a fair old commute!

[NorthernLass]

As noted, it’s to do with whether tax is paid on the alcohol, however in this case it sounds as though either the crew don’t know where they are or can’t be bothered to open a few bottles!

[SamG]

They cannot open the bar on the ground. Tax paid pre departure champagne has to be loaded seperately and I did read somewhere on Flyertalk that there has been some issues with the availability / loading of this in North America but it was being sorted out

[MrWhite]

NickBS wrote:

Just to confirm, I fly the LHR/YYZ route almost weekly for work and I’ve always been offered a pre-departure champagne/sparkling wine so it’s not the norm to be in that situation.

Looks like the OP has been given duff information, or the crew are holding it back for a party later!

[ekposh]

MrWhite wrote:

NickBS wrote:

Just to confirm, I fly the LHR/YYZ route almost weekly for work and I’ve always been offered a pre-departure champagne/sparkling wine so it’s not the norm to be in that situation.

Looks like the OP has been given duff information, or the crew are holding it back for a party later!

Or they haven’t loaded it and therefore, strictly speaking, it would be illegal to serve what they have.

[Ihar]

As above. But I wouldn’t worry. Even the “champagne” they service in First on the ground in USA is pretty grim. Just make it known you’ve “had a hard day” and they’ll be round “tout suite” after take-off.