As of last Wednesday, airline passengers are no longer allowed to pack alcohol in their carry-on luggage and security officials are checking all beverages before they are allowed on a plane.
"Passengers should store their alcoholic drinks in the planes' baggage compartment and they're allowed to take with them only 500 milliliters of soft drinks, which is equal to about two small bottles," said Yi Jiwu, an official with Shanghai Airport Authority, operator of the city's two airports.
Prior to the implementation of the new rule, passengers were allowed to carry two 500-milliliter bottles of alcoholic drinks onto a plane.
Officials say the new rule is meant to improve security on planes in China, but wouldn't say exactly how they make planes safer.
Some believe the rules are related to an attempted hijacking during the Spring Festival.
On February 2, the second day of the Lunar New Year, a man on a plane flying from Beijing to Fuzhou claimed that he was hijacking the plane, but he was detained by security officials on the flight.
Civil Aviation Administration officials said the incident is still under investigation and declined to reveal more details, but industry insiders believe the man was drunk at the time.
To ensure bottled beverages don't contain gasoline or other dangerous fluids, security officials may ask passengers to take a drink from them before boarding the plane.
Passengers who don't want to open their drinks can check them in with their baggage.
"In the past three days, some drink carriers could not understand why they were facing such scrutiny. But after our explanation, most of them were willing to cooperate and accept our careful check according to the new rule," said a security guard surnamed Zhang at Hongqiao Airport.
While many of the passengers passing through the city's airports over the past three days were carrying alcohol back to their hometowns as gifts, the new rule didn't cause too much trouble.
"All liquid articles are banned from being taken into the passenger cabin without being opened for a security check," said the security guard.
"I seldom bring alcohol with me during flights. Even if I bring wine with me, I'd rather have it carried in the luggage hold than taking it myself all the way," said Cai Ying, a local white-collar worker.
Others are less happy with the new rule.
"The wine I bought as gift for my parents is expensive and I'd like to carry it myself," said a passenger surnamed Sun who left the city for his hometown in neighboring Jiangsu Province yesterday.
(Eastday.com February 8, 2003)
