British Airways has quickly backtracked on a controversial ban that prohibited cabin crew and pilots from drinking coffee or other beverages in public while in uniform.

British Airways Backtracks On Employee Drink Ban

Earlier this month, British Airways introduced a policy instructing employees to only drink water “discreetly” in public while wearing their uniform. Coffee, tea, soda, or other beverages were not permitted in terminals, at gates, or while walking through airports. Crew were told they could only consume such drinks in staff restrooms, cafeterias, or designated break areas. Even commuting or deadheading staff were discouraged from wearing their uniforms on BA flights.

The reaction from staff was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Unions condemned the rule as unnecessary, demeaning, and unworkable given the long hours and limited rest facilities that crews endure.

Within days, BA retreated. The airline clarified that it never intended to ban drinking outright, but rather to maintain professionalism in public. The revised stance now allows employees to drink coffee and other beverages while seated in airport cafes or gate areas. Only drinking while walking in uniform remains discouraged. The uniform ban for commuting crew has also been paused pending further review.

British Airways said the guidance had created the wrong impression and clarified that the intent was to maintain a professional image, not to prevent crew from hydrating. The airline emphasized that crew are permitted to drink when seated in cafes or gate areas, but should avoid walking with coffee in hand while in uniform.

Hey British Airways, Instead Of Banning Cabin Crew From Drinking Coffee, Why Not Give Customers Free Coffee?

This whole brouhaha is such a needless, self-inflicted wound.

The irony is also striking. Rather than worrying about whether crew are seen with a Starbucks cup in hand, perhaps BA should focus on what customers receive. Serving a consistently good cup of coffee onboard at no extra cost would improve the airline’s image far more than micromanaging staff behavior.

• Passengers notice value, including good food, drink, and service, not whether crew sip coffee between flights.
• Policing employees in this way risks hurting morale, which can harm the customer experience onboard, not enhance it.
• If BA wants to enhance its reputation, focusing on basics like punctuality, cleanliness, and hospitality would be far more impactful.

So, a suggestion to BA: bring back free tea and coffee onboard. Better yet, bring back beverages onboard so that people are less conflicted booking BA over EasyJet or Ryanair.

CONCLUSION

British Airways introduced a ban on employees drinking coffee or other beverages in public while in uniform, only to scrap most of the restrictions days later after fierce backlash from unions and staff. The new rules now permit crew to enjoy drinks when seated in public areas, though walking with coffee in hand remains discouraged. Instead of micro-managing its crew, BA would better serve its customers by focusing on improving the basics of service, including offering passengers a quality cup of coffee ot tea included in their fare.

image: British Airways / hat tip: PYOK