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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., today began pushing for a limit on the amount of alcohol airline passengers can consume in an effort to halt the rise of so-called air rage incidents. 

“In view of the 5,000 air rage incidents each year, I believe it is time for the airline industry to set standards voluntarily, or else congress may well step in. To that end, I am in the process of writing legislation that would limit each passenger to two drinks on domestic flights, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage served,” Feinstein wrote in a letter to CEOs of the seven major domestic air carriers. 

Feinstein said she hoped the airlines would set in-air limits voluntarily, but added if they were unwilling, she would introduce legislation to limit alcohol consumption. 

“According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there is at least one occurrence of air rage each day and evidence suggests a majority of these incidents involve alcohol,'' said Feinstein. She said the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits the serving of alcohol to passengers who appear intoxicated, but have never set a drink limit.