The United Kingdom’s government has proposed a national blacklist for abusive air passengers that would allow airlines to share data on disruptive customers and potentially prevent them from boarding flights with any carrier. The scheme would close a gap in current rules that allows passengers banned by one airline to book with another.

A government source told the BBC that “everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but antisocial behaviour on flights is totally unacceptable,” adding that such behaviour “threatens the safety of passengers and crew, and disrupts hard-earned holidays.”

Officials from the Department for Transport plan to meet with airlines this month to discuss how the proposal could work. The government source said officials are “exploring with industry how we can better address this issue, ensuring we crack down on people who persistently cause chaos.” The national database could be co-operatively managed by the government and the airline industry.

The move would not require any changes to current law, though it is not clear how the plan would function under the United Kingdom’s data protection framework. Under GDPR rules, airlines are currently prohibited from sharing passenger details, meaning a disruptive passenger banned from one flight can book with a different carrier.

Airlines UK, the trade body representing the industry, said it welcomed the proposal. “Additional measures for the most serious cases of disruption, including the creation of a national ban list, is an important next step ensuring a tiny minority of passengers cannot disrupt air travel for the majority,” a spokesperson said.

Disruptive and drunken behaviour by air passengers has been a persistent concern for airlines, with criminal prosecutions used in severe cases. In April, a court heard that Stephen Blofield, 61, became so abusive during a Ryanair flight from Krakow to Bristol in November that the pilot was forced to abort the first landing attempt. Blofield was jailed for 10 months.

In February, Jet2 banned two passengers for life after a mid-air brawl on a flight from Turkey to Manchester. The airline described the behaviour as “appalling.” The incident led to an emergency landing in Brussels, where the men were arrested for intentional assault and battery.