Attention: Why you should never drink alcohol on an airplane

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A glass of sparkling wine on a couple’s vacation, beer on the way to Mallorca, or wine to help you fall asleep. Alcohol consumption is not uncommon on airplanes. Especially on long-haul flights, alcohol is a must for many. However, according to a new study by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Germany (DLR), this is anything but advisable, as the body reacts differently to alcohol above the clouds than on the ground.

Why you should avoid alcohol on the plane
Researchers have investigated how alcohol consumption affects our bodies when we are on an airplane, and the results are worrying. For the study, the DLR Institute examined 48 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 40 while sleeping under normal air pressure and airplane conditions, once with and once without alcohol.

Caution: Why you should never drink alcohol on an airplane
The result: alcohol, in combination with low cabin pressure during sleep, can have considerable consequences for the cardiovascular system. The combination of alcohol, sleep, and low pressure lowers the oxygen content in the blood during a long-haul flight and increases the heart rate over a longer period. Even small amounts of alcohol are enough to have these adverse effects.
The study also revealed that the quality of sleep decreases significantly under the influence of alcohol. The faster heartbeat restricts recovery and makes us sleep more restlessly. This mainly affects first- or business-class passengers, who can sleep horizontally.

Health consequences of drinking alcohol on an airplane
Drinking alcohol during a flight puts a heavy strain on the cardiovascular system. According to scientists, even young and healthy people can develop problems. Those who already suffer from heart or lung disease can suffer even more significant and permanent damage. The experts, therefore, advise passengers to avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours before and during the flight.

The research team is also calling on airlines to take action. Access to alcohol on board must be restricted, and public awareness of this underestimated health risk should be increased.