Australian drinks executive destroys bottles of Grange at airport
January 2, 2008
Oliver Styles, and agencies
A regional manager for Australian drinks giant Fosters says he was forced to destroy two bottles of Penfolds Grange at Melbourne airport due to security restrictions.
Neil Grant, who is a southern region general manager for Fosters, whose portfolio includes Penfolds, was travelling to the UK with bottles of 1980 and 1982 Grange when he was told the wines would have to be confiscated.
Increased airport security fears mean that no more than 100ml of liquid can be carried onto an aircraft as hand luggage.
Grant said he had forgotten the rule. Security staff conducting checks at Tullmarine airport reportedly told him the bottles, from Grant's personal cellar and worth over £400, would be 'bloody destroyed'.
'I had the lady from hell,' Grant told Australian newspaper The Herald Sun. 'They were totally inflexible.'
Despite pleading with airport staff that the bottles were 'works of art' and should be allowed through regardless, Grant finally decided to smash the bottles.
'I offered to open it there and then and let everyone have some,' said Grant. 'But they said, “No, sir, you can't do that here”.'
Despite stringent security controls prior to boarding, many airports allow bottles purchased in their duty free areas onto aeroplanes.
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Well, in this era, anyone in the wine business who does not know that you can no longer carry wine onto an airplane, certainly deserves to have their wine confiscated.
This chap is supposedly an “executive” at Fosters? We hope that management at Fosters takes a hard look at the lack of good judgment Mr. Grant displayed and the embarrassment he brought to their company. Anyone who claims to be an “executive” for a major corporation should first be a good citizen and play by the rules of society and be supportive of the public servants who are enforcing the laws for the public good.
Shame on Mr. Grant!
A fellow wine “executive”
He should be made to sing the unauthorized version of the Siamese National Anthem, to the tune of God Save the Queen -- "O Wah Ta Nah Siam".
Tony Hirons, The Merchant Vintner, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Very Sad………….
The Security People are missing the point. It seems that beaurocracy is the strong point every where I travel to. The security is very “top heavy” and I really think they are inefficient. I know here in the States, it is just turmoil. I think the problem is at the top of the ladder. We are blessed with poor organization and over staffing.
Aviation and air travel cannot exist forever like this. It will fail.
Phil Sisson, Illinois, USA
I recently received two bottles of wine as a gift and had to carry them back home on a plane. I was aware of the liquid limitation so I planned ahead. I simply wrapped them up into my baggage that I was to check-in and I retrieved it with no problem at the baggage claim in my home airport. The bottles were still there in the bag with no problems. Lesson to be learned: check them in!
J. Galliera, Florida, USA
The bureaucracy in Australia is increasingly turning Australia into a police state. Just this week, a local municipal council banned flying kites in all of its parks and recreation spaces. This ban added to about 20 other banned activities.
Airport passenger security at major airports in Australia is generally run by people who can best be described as humourless automatons. I agree with your correspondent “ a fellow wine executive” that all travelling Australians understand their inflexibility and that they confiscate everything on their list.
The irony about our airports is that the security is so lax in respect of airport workers and suppliers, etc. that it is a standing joke. A local newspaper reporter recently penetrated Sydney International Airport all the way to the aircraft on the apron, without challenge, to the huge embarrassment of the Airport Management, which is owned by Macquarie Bank!
There is irrefutable evidence that major drug rings operate in and out of Sydney Airport with the connivance of airport baggage handlers, many of whom are from middle eastern backgrounds. Several convictions of airport workers assisting drug couriers are proof of this fact.
Everyone here thinks that the ridiculous restrictions re the carriage of liquids onto aircraft is the usual lame brained bureaucratic response to a security issue which still exists. Aircraft today are as vulnerable as ever to determined criminals and terrorists who in Australia, at least, are perceived to operate successfully in spite of the so–called security clampdown on passengers, without even remotely addressing the real security threat which comes through the baggage handling operations.
George Orwell's 1984 is coming, albeit just a little bit later than when he predicted.
Ivan Watt, Sydney, Australia
When can we dispense with this ridiculous rule? The Grange he could have bought on the other side of security is no more or less likely to have allowed him to blow up a plane.
Linden Wilkie, London, UK
I agree with both the wine executive (who does NOT know you cannot carry liquids onboard) as well as mr Sisson, haven't we gone a bit too far....
But, why smash the bottles, these works of art?? You can always walk back from customs in reverse order and have them picked up later. What a brutal act of ignorance! (or just sent them to me :-)
Luc Bool, Wineproof, Holland
The whole hullabaloo about the danger posed by liquid explosives is completely over the top. It's still far easier to create a bomb using solids than liquids and any would-be suicide bomber is perfectly well aware of this. The whole business stinks of Big Government wanting to show the (ignorant) Public what a good job it's doing.
Chemist and Wine-lover (still in mourning over the fate of the Grange)
The day Al Qaeda operatives buy and use premier grog for any purpose whatsoever will mark the day when we cease needing airport security. When traveling with fine wine I always carry a much-sought-after Meridian Hotel plastic promotional cork screw. I can assure you that there is nothing better than a turbulent red-nosed Aussie at 30000 feet particularly when it is me.
Toby Bensimon, Adelaide, Australia
Those security Nazi's are dumber than rocks, in my opinon. If their collective brains were gasoline, it wouldn't power a pissant's motorcycle around the inside of a Cheerio.
Bob Webster
What a tragedy! Instead of attempting to share this sumptuous wine with self important, pig headed, customs officials - could Grant not have opened the bottles and shared them with his fellow passengers who would have been more than willing to help him out in his hour of need!
Mitch O'Sullivan, Caviste, France
I had a similar experience with 2 EMPTY bottles of Quinta do Noval Nacional which I wanted to preserve as a remembering of a tasting and a visit.
'I could be used as a weapon,' according to the customs in Lisbon. They forgot that after passing through the customs you can buy again bottles and bring them in the plane.... This really has no meaning.
Dick, Italy
The destruction of such fine wine at the hands of airport 'potplants' is becoming routine out of Australia. I was fortunate enough to have checked my two magnums of 2004 Penfolds Block 42 into my suitcase when departing Perth last August. The poor chap in front of me at the security gate had the humiliation of being marched down to the crusher and see his 90 Grange get crushed in front of his eyes!! My only comment is this, knowing how much of a jobs-worth ¾ of these security people are – its best to just fan their egos and comply with a big smile. Besides, I would expect most of these guys don't even know the Institution that is Grange.
Dominic Che
I agree wholeheartedly on the comment [above], by the fellow wine executive. I also believe, that rather than destroy that type of wine (which is an added insult to injury and lack of foresight) he should have turned around, walked out and missed the plane, bearing whatever consecuences; but not "ditching" purportedly better than normal wine, and disrespecting the industry in this fashion (especially as an executive). Ridiculous.
It could also be a marketing ploy, as we are in effect, discussing this....
Robin Fernández-Medina, Málaga, Spain
Grant. You are a prat. On several counts;
1) Wasting two bottles of Grange
2) Believing you are beyond the law of the land
3) Bringing your employer to prominence through your ignorance and stupidity
4) Dragging down the status of wine industry executive, again through your ignorance and stupidity
Go work in some other industry, please.
Hooper, New Zealand
As a member of the Grange Gravy Club in New Zealand. We make gravy with our Grange. I am not amused with the conduct of the executive. He must be related to the under arm bowlers family whose name escapes me.
Mike Radich, New Zealand
Whilst the security bureaucrats share one brain cell and wouldn't know the difference between Grange and red cordial, one must wonder what Neil Grant's excuse is…..What? There was no cell coverage for him to call someone to collect this wine? Could he not ask for this to be put with his luggage? There is always a logical way around difficult situations. I think he was having a hissy fit and not fit for the position he holds.
Fellow wine enthusiast Marlborough NZ
Does anyone believe the ridiculous security at airports will protects us? Be seen to be doing something is the watch word! How many liters of duty free over proof spirits would you need to set fire to in the rear toilet to bring down a plane? Perfume bombs any one? Perhaps when they stop selling flammable liquids to departing passengers we'll know they are serious! At least the terrorists know what they are NOT looking for!
The clown with the bottles of wine in the hand luggage didn't deserve to drink it!!
JW
Does anyone believe the ridiculous security at airports will protects us? Be seen to be doing something is the watch word! How many liters of duty free over proof spirits would you need to set fire to in the rear toilet to bring down a plane? Perfume bombs any one? Perhaps when they stop selling flammable liquids to departing passengers we'll know they are serious! At least the terrorists know what they are NOT looking for!
The clown with the bottles of wine in the hand luggage didn't deserve to drink it!!
JW
I would have waited for the next flight
Hubert Muscat
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Well, in this era, anyone in the wine business who does not know that you can no longer carry wine onto an airplane, certainly deserves to have their wine confiscated.
