The Two Drinks To Avoid Ordering On A Plane

If you’re on a long or morning flight, it makes sense that you might order a coffee or tea during your trip. These warm, comforting beverages are part of your daily routine, so why shouldn’t you drink them on an airplane? Well, there are a few reasons why you shouldn’t, and I’m willing to bet you won’t be ordering either of these beverages while on a plane from here on out.

“Flight attendants will not drink hot water on the plane. They will not drink plain coffee, and they will not drink plain tea,” one flight attendant revealed to Business Insider. Why? Well, water on a plane comes from a hose/tap system, not a bottle. Recent studies have found that an astonishing number of planes’ water supplies contain dangerous chemicals and bacteria such as coliform and even E. coli. One study found that one in eight planes fail to meet the agency’s standards for water safety.

According to Dr. Cedric Spak, infectious disease specialist at Baylor University Medical Center, people with compromised immune systems should avoid in-flight beverages. He also notes that parents should “think twice” before filling a baby’s bottle with airplane tap water (which I would have thought was a given).

Moral of the story? Steer clear of any beverage made from the airplane’s water system. You’ll want to avoid ordering anything brewed with tap water, so coffee and tea are off the table. If you’re thirsty on a flight, order something that is sealed and comes in a can — it’s a simple, easy way to protect your health while flying.

If you’re rethinking your in-flight routine, you might be surprised why taking shoes off during a flight isn’t recommended.