Eurostar criticised for ‘quiet’ introduction of alcohol limit
Eurostar has defended its decision to limit the amount of alcohol passengers can take onboard its trains.
It says the move was necessary to ‘maintain a pleasant environment’, despite recent complaints on social media.
Since last autumn, passengers are only allowed to take one bottle of wine or four cans of beer onboard and they aren’t allowed to take any spirits.
Previously there were restrictions only on its ski trains and temporary ones were imposed for certain sporting events.
Mark Smith, (left), who runs the popular website seat61.com tweeted that the change to Eurostar’s luggage policy had been introduced ‘quietly’, adding that it was ‘completely unnecessary’.
"Previously its policy was easygoing, it was sort of what you would expect. I’m aghast at the change, it seems draconian," he told the BBC.
Smith said the change would make travelling by train more stressful for many passengers.
Eurostar said: "This decision was made to maintain a pleasant environment on board for all our travellers. Those that wish to take more with them for consumption at home can do so using our registered luggage service, EuroDespatch."
Its luggage service, EuroDespatch, charges a minimum fee of £30 per item.
Eurostar would not say how many customers had been stopped at security checks with too much alcohol since the limits were put in place, or if there were restrictions on the amount of alcohol passengers can buy on its trains.
"All luggage goes through a scanner as it does in the airport and Eurostar reserves the right to confiscate any alcohol over those limits. Alcohol consumption on board is monitored by our team," it said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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