( CNN ) -- `` The ( airline ) bar is closed . '' More flight attendants should say that to more passengers . This might seem like heresy to the millions of travelers who enjoy free drinks in the upper classes and on international flights , but maybe it 's time airlines consider putting a cap on drinks , or charging passengers for their alcohol after the first drink or two . Recently , Jennifer Lauren , niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren , was allegedly misbehaving on a Delta Air Lines flight after getting `` dangerously drunk '' and abusive toward other passengers . It got so bad that the New York bound plane made an unscheduled stop in Ireland to remove her from the flight . She was arrested for endangering other passengers . Let 's not be shocked by this . These days , a month does n't go by that I do n't hear about an intoxicated passenger getting into fights with flight crews or their fellow travelers . The Jennifer Lauren episode is fresh in our memory , but drunks on planes are nothing new . A few years ago , French actor Gérard Depardieu made the headlines when he , allegedly drunk , urinated in the aisle during an Air France flight from Paris to Dublin , Ireland . And let 's not forget `` Dracula '' star Jonathan Rhys Meyers , who was banned from flying on United Airlines after drinking heavily in the carrier 's first class lounge in a flight from New York to Los Angeles . The crew noticed he had become belligerent and disruptive , so they refused to let him board the flight to L.A . In an August 2013 report on unruly passengers , the International Air Transport Association , which represents airlines from around the world , noted that `` many '' carriers said alcohol was the major contributor to disruptive behavior . `` They observed that passengers , in numerous instances , may have been intoxicated at the time of boarding the aircraft or had access to their own alcohol supply on board . '' Similarly , the Toronto-based International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers said air rage tends to occur in unfamiliar and over-stimulating environments , including airports and airplanes . The rage is fueled by `` overcrowding , delays , lack of information , lack of manners and boorish behavior , as well as arguments with transportation or service personnel . '' Furthermore , `` Heightened stress levels , alcohol and drug misuse , as well as smoking prohibitions in many public places , are common factors inciting rage . '' Unfortunately , some travelers choose alcohol before and during a flight , and in extreme cases , end up in conflicts with passengers and crew and attempt to open emergency exits and even storm the cockpit . The bottom line is flight crews and passengers need to be more mindful . Flight attendants , like it or not , are the final line of defense when it comes to drunk passengers . They need to be empowered to cut off passengers when a fellow traveler brings up a legitimate complaint or if they see bad behaviors escalating . And in our post-9/11 travel world , passengers are much more willing to help flight crews with unruly passengers in case there is n't an air marshal aboard . Those who choose to drink excessively and become abusive not only should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law , but they also need to be sued to recover the costs for any diversion or damages they may cause others during their inebriated state . There are always travelers who will drink , whether it 's free or not . By imposing fees and/or limits on the number of drinks , airlines would not only reduce alcohol consumption , but also make a profit from a common-sense regulation . Maintaining good order during flights is one of the best ways that airlines can serve their customers well . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Benét J. Wilson .
Benét Wilson : Let 's not be shocked by drunken passengers misbehaving on planes . Wilson : Intoxicated passengers who are abusive should be prosecuted . She believes flight rules are the last line of defense against inebriated travelers . Wilson : Airlines should also impose fees and/or limit on the sale of drinks .