Ryanair has renewed its call for a two-drink limit per passenger at airport bars, claiming it would create “a safer travel experience for passengers and crews”. The airline revealed last week that it had begun legal proceedings to recoup losses from unruly passengers as part of a “major misconduct clampdown”.

It has launched a civil lawsuit against a passenger in Ireland, seeking 15,000 euros (£12,600) in damages related to a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote which was diverted to Porto in April last year. Ryanair alleges the passenger’s behaviour prompted the diversion.

The 15,000 euros includes costs such as overnight accommodation for over 160 passengers and six crew members (7,000 euros or £5,900), Porto Airport landing and handling fees (2,500 euros or £2,100) and Portuguese legal fees (2,500 euros or £2,100). A Ryanair spokesperson criticised European governments for their “repeated failure to act when disruptive passengers threaten aircraft safety and force diversions”.

He added: “It is time that European Union authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports. Airlines like Ryanair already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, particularly in disruptive passenger cases.

“However, during flight delays, passengers are consuming excess alcohol at airports without any limit on purchase or consumption. We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.”

Ryanair, through its chief Michael O’Leary, had initially called attention to the need for a two-drink limit back in August last year after reporting a spike in incidents of disorderly behaviour on flights.