Alcohol policy and aviation safety

Aviation provides an environment which is almost uniquely unforgiving of mistakes. Accordingly, impairment of aircrew performance by alcohol can, and occasionally does, lead to catastrophic mistakes. That such disasters are rare, is a credit to the responsibility of aircrew themselves and to the effectiveness of aviation industry policies. Similarly, maintenance of this exemplary record depends upon continued attention to alcohol policy in the future. The aviation industry thus provides a useful model for the study of alcohol policies within a safety critical environment. Surprisingly, this model appears not to have been subjected to critical research and evaluation. Based upon previous research on alcohol and aviation, and in consideration of findings from the wider field of alcohol policy, suggestions are made here as to a promising framework for future alcohol policy formation in the aviation environment.