Southwest Airlines paused its on-board beverage options in March 2020 amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On February 16, 2022, the airline will return to offering an expanded selection of beverages on flights at least 176 miles long. 

Beer, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey and wine are included in the wide range of alcoholic beverages to be restored by Southwest for on-board purchase. Among the nonalcoholic beverages to be added are apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, hot cocoa, hot tea and tonic water.

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Originally, Southwest planned to resume serving alcohol on some flights starting in June 2021. However, the plan was cancelled after the arrest of a passenger on May 23, 2021, who was accused of striking a flight attendant during a flight of the airline from Sacramento, California, USA to San Diego, California.

A total of 5,114 incidents involving unruly passengers were reported from January 2021 to November 2021, according to the Federal Aviation Association. In November 2021, United Airlines started serving alcohol on its flights again.

United Airlines is headquartered in Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded as Varney Air Lines on April 6, 1926.

Southwest was founded as Air Southwest on March 15, 1967. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA, the airline has scheduled service to 121 destinations in the U.S. and 10 other countries.

In July 2004, Gary C. Kelly, 66, became the chairman and chief executive officer of Southwest. In June 2021, he announced that he would relinquish his role as CEO in February 2022.