Southwest is restoring alcohol sales, leaving American as lone holdout

If you have Southwest flights coming up, you'll soon have a lot more drink options to enjoy on board.

Come Feb. 16, the Dallas-based carrier will once again offer its full beverage service, including alcohol sales, after a nearly two-year hiatus. The pause on booze was initially to limit onboard interactions and minimize the time passengers would not be wearing face masks, but was then extended due to a surge of unruly passengers, including assaults on its flight attendants.

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The expanded selection of beverages will be available on all flights of 176 miles or more. It will include tonic water, apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, hot tea and hot cocoa, joining its current lineup of sodas, juices and coffee. Further, it will offer a selection of beer, wine, rum, tequila and vodka for sale:

• Miller Lite ($6).
• Lagunitas IPA ($7).
• Blue Moon ($7).
• Sparkling wine ($6).
• Chardonnay ($6).
• Cabernet sauvignon ($6).
• Vodka ($7).
• Lime vodka ($7).
• Jack Daniel's Whiskey ($7).
• Wild Turkey ($7).
• Bacardi Rum ($7).
• Tequila ($7).

Related: Here's what food and drinks you can expect on your next flight

“Customers have expressed a desire for more beverage options, so we’re delighted to restore additional on-board offerings as a part of the Southwest Hospitality that our Customers know and love,” said Tony Roach, vice president of customer experience and customer relations.

However, not everyone is happy with this announcement.

The union that represents Southwest Airlines' flight attendants called the resumption of alcohol sales "unsafe and irresponsible" in a Facebook post, and further said: "We have adamantly and unequivocally informed management that to do this prior to the mask mandate being lifted is contrary to their prior statements and will potentially increase customer non-compliance and misconduct issues. This, along with added injury risk on ultra-short haul service flights, will put our Members overall safety and security at an unacceptable level of risk."

The move leaves American Airlines as the only remaining U.S. airline to not resume alcohol sales in coach. Like Southwest, American cited the uptick in industrywide incidents of inflight passenger disruptions. The airline's executives have stated that the ban would remain as long as the federal mask mandate is in place, which is in effect through at least March 18. To decrease the amount of time passengers have their masks off, American also recently eliminated its second beverage service on domestic flights longer than 1,500 miles, though additional drinks are still available by request.

With this news, Southwest is extending any drink coupons that were set to expire in 2020 or 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022.