Gan bei! Chinese woman chugs US$200 bottle of cognac at baggage check after security officers refuse to let her take it on plane

A Chinese woman passenger who downed an entire bottle of expensive cognac at Beijing’s main airport was barred from boarding because she was “too drunk to fly”, a local newspaper reported.

The woman, surnamed Zhao, was found rolling on the floor at a boarding gate at Beijing Capital International Airport, shouting and screaming, according to a police officer who attended the scene.

“She was so drunk… she couldn’t even stand up herself. We took her to a room in a wheelchair so she could rest,” the officer told The Beijing Times.

The captain of the Wenzhou-bound flight refused to allow Zhao on the plane on Friday as she was travelling alone, and was concerned that her condition could affect safety on board.

According to the report, Zhao was stopped from bringing a bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence in her hand luggage.

Passengers are prohibited from bringing liquids over 100ml in their hand luggage in China.

Fearing the prized liquor would go to waste – a 700ml bottle costs about US$200 (HK$1,500) – she downed the entire bottle.

Zhao, who is said to be about 40, bought the bottle at a US airport and was transferring to a domestic flight in Beijing.

Zhao woke up some hours later and thanked police for taking care of her. They contacted her family members who took her home.