DRUNK passengers at airports are being put under scrutiny by the government's aviation minister.

Lord Ahmad is set to look into the issue of alcohol at airports after it was revealed that over the past two years 442 people were held on suspicion of being drunk in an airport, or on a plane.

Lord Ahmad said he doesn't want to "kill merriment", but will look closely at the times at which alcohol is sold.

The screening of potential trouble makers is also on the table for discussion.

Earlier this week budget airline jet2.com issued a code of practice meant to address how their staff deal with disruptive passengers.

One of the issues that Lord Ahmad raised was the impact that drinking has on families travelling.

He said: "If you're a young family travelling on a plane you want to go from point A to B, you don't want to be disrupted.

"I don't think we want to kill merriment altogether, but I think it's important that passengers who board planes are also responsible and have a responsibility to other passengers, and that certainly should be the factor which we bear in mind."

A review into this issue is still at a very early stage, with a Department for Transport spokeswoman saying: "Airport security is always under review, however there are no plans to specifically address the issue of alcohol at airports."

<div style="margin:0 auto;max-width:640px;"><div style="width:100%;padding-top:110%;position:relative"><iframe style="position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:none" src="//www.riddle.com/a/78656?fixed=1"><div style="display:none"><section><h2>Do you think the sale of alcohol should be banned in airports and on planes?</h2></section><section><h3>Yes - it's disruptive and ruins flights</h3></section><section><h3>No - It's a minority who spoil it for everyone else</h3></section></div></iframe></div></div>