Air passengers are complaining that the banning of alcohol on flights as enforced by the General Bureau of Civil Aviation discriminates against products bought from shops in and outside Capital International Airport in Beijing.

Li, a manager for a joint-venture firm told Xinhua News Agency about his perplexing experience on September 11.

Li and his colleagues intended to take four bottles of foreign wine with them on a flight from Beijing to Shanghai as presents for some important clients. But they were told by the safety inspector that the bottles must be consigned or temporarily left at the airport.

Due to time constraints, Li bought another four bottles in the quarantine area, then smoothly passed the inspection.

As for passengers' confusion, said Wang Jiadong, the airport's general manager, distinguishing between the various forms of alcohol, some of which are highly-flammable, is difficult. But the quality of alcohol sold in the quarantine area is assured.

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