This news story of a lady in Beijing being banned from carrying on board a £120 bottle of cognac and then being banned from flying because she downed the bottle is a sad reflection on modern life. I confess if I had the funds to buy such an expensive bottle of Brandy, and was then prevented from taking it on board a plane I would be very frustrated. The idea of it being poured down the drain or something similar by someone within the customs is also not very satisfactory. I personally don’t enjoy brandy, but would happily drink a glass of premier brand whisky (my preference would be the blue label Johnny Walker – a hang over from an episode of the West Wing). The smart thing surely would be to obtain some suitable receptacles and then offer a glass to others queuing up for the same flight. Surely a better outcome than either destroying the drink or getting so drunk that you miss your flight.