EasyJet passengers flying from the UK in 2026 are navigating a changing landscape of food and drink rules, shaped both by evolving airport security technology and the airline’s own policies on what can be brought on board and consumed in the cabin. From the end of the traditional 100 millilitre liquid rule at many UK airports to stricter controls on hot food and alcohol, understanding the latest regulations has become essential for avoiding confiscations at security and disagreements at the boarding gate.
Airport Security Rules: Liquids, Food and the New 2-Litre Era
For years, passengers at UK airports have been accustomed to squeezing toiletries and drinks into 100 millilitre containers inside a clear plastic bag. In 2026, that rule is being relaxed or scrapped at most major UK hubs as new computed tomography scanners are rolled out at security checkpoints. Airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh now allow travellers to take liquids of up to two litres through security, typically without removing them from cabin bags, a change aimed at speeding up queues and reducing the need for plastic bags.
However, the picture is far from uniform. Some UK airports still apply the older 100 millilitre limit or operate a hybrid system where liquids can stay in hand luggage but must remain in small containers. Others now permit larger volumes but retain local restrictions on how items are packed and screened. That patchwork means EasyJet passengers can no longer assume that what is allowed at Heathrow will automatically be accepted at Luton, Manchester or a smaller regional airport.
These security rules apply to liquids in general, whether purchased at home, in shops before security or as part of baby supplies. Liquid foods such as soups, yoghurts, sauces and custards are treated as liquids for screening purposes. While solid foods like sandwiches, crisps and fruit ordinarily pass security without issue, anything with a runny consistency may fall under liquid restrictions and can be seized if it exceeds the permitted volume or is not packed correctly.
Because EasyJet operates from a wide range of UK and European airports, passengers must consider not only the rules at departure but also those in place for the return journey. Many European destinations, including popular holiday hubs, still enforce the 100 millilitre limit strictly. A bottle of drink or jar of spread that clears security in the UK under the new regime may be refused when flying back from abroad, even if the airline itself has no objection to carrying it on board.
What Food You Can Bring on an EasyJet Flight from the UK
EasyJet’s core policy remains that passengers may bring their own cold food on board, provided it complies with security regulations and does not pose safety, hygiene or comfort issues for other travellers. In practice, this means that items like pre-made sandwiches, baguettes, bakery goods, crisps, nuts, fruit, chocolate and most packaged snacks are generally acceptable to carry through security and eat in the cabin.
Hot food is where restrictions have tightened in recent months. In 2025, EasyJet, along with several other low-cost carriers, began clamping down on passengers boarding with hot takeaway meals and steaming drinks. Cabin crew have reported more frequent conflicts over odours, spills and messy packaging, particularly on early-morning and late-evening departures. As a result, travellers are now often advised that hot, strong-smelling or spillable items brought from airport restaurants or fast food outlets may be refused at the gate or requested to remain sealed during the flight.
Liquid or semi-liquid foods such as soups, stews, curries, yoghurts in large tubs or sauces fall into a grey area. If these exceed the security liquid limit at the airport being used, they may be confiscated before passengers even reach the aircraft, regardless of EasyJet’s onboard stance. Passengers attempting to carry meals in containers with visible sauces or gravies are especially likely to be challenged, both by airport security and by cabin crew concerned about spills in a crowded cabin.
EasyJet also retains discretion to intervene if any food brought on board is deemed unsafe, unhygienic or likely to cause disruption. That can include very pungent items, foods that may trigger severe allergic reactions among nearby passengers, or anything that obstructs the aisle or exit row. The airline’s conditions of carriage allow crew to refuse carriage or service if they believe an item endangers health, safety or the comfort of others.
Hot Drinks, Bottled Water and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
On the drinks side, the line between what is allowed and what is practical has become more nuanced. Cold soft drinks, juices and water purchased after security screening in airport shops or cafes are usually permitted on board EasyJet flights, subject to being properly sealed and within any liquid limits imposed by the airport. Once on board, passengers are expected to handle these drinks carefully and to follow crew instructions about stowage during taxi, take-off and landing.
Hot drinks are treated more cautiously. Safety is the primary concern, as scalding injuries from spilled tea or coffee can be serious in the confined environment of an aircraft cabin. EasyJet in recent policy reminders has indicated that hot drinks brought to the gate from airport outlets may be refused at boarding, particularly on busy flights or where open cups lack secure lids. Even where hot drinks are allowed through, passengers can be instructed to finish them before boarding or to dispose of them at the aircraft door.
Inside the cabin, EasyJet sells its own range of hot drinks and bottled beverages through the buy-on-board service. Those drinks are served in containers and with procedures designed for airline use, such as lids and trays that limit spills during turbulence. This offers a safer and more controlled way to consume hot drinks at altitude compared with boarding with fragile takeaway cups or oversized flasks from the terminal.
Non-alcoholic drinks carried from home are still subject to security screening rules. In airports that have moved to the two-litre allowance, larger water bottles may now pass without issue, whereas in airports still enforcing the old 100 millilitre threshold, security staff will restrict such volumes. EasyJet’s own cabin policies build on those airport rules but do not override them: an item that fails security screening will not be allowed onto the aircraft, regardless of the airline’s view.
Alcohol: Duty-Free Purchases, Onboard Sales and What You Cannot Drink
EasyJet’s position on alcohol remains among the firmest of all its food and drink regulations. Under the airline’s terms and conditions, passengers are allowed to carry sealed alcohol in their cabin baggage, including duty-free purchases made after security in the airport. Bottles must remain unopened and usually must not exceed 70 per cent alcohol by volume. These items are treated as any other carry-on commodity, subject to security rules and local regulations on duty-free limits.
What passengers cannot do is drink their own alcohol at any point during the flight. EasyJet’s conditions of carriage make clear that alcoholic drinks may only be consumed if purchased from the airline’s onboard cafe service. Crew are trained to monitor behaviour, and they have explicit authority to refuse additional sales to anyone who appears intoxicated or who is disturbing other passengers. They may also confiscate alcohol being consumed illicitly and, in serious cases, arrange for disruptive passengers to be met by police on landing.
This prohibition covers both alcohol brought from home and duty-free bottles bought in the airport. Attempting to decant spirits into soft-drink containers or coffee cups is regarded by airlines and regulators as a serious safety issue because it prevents crew from accurately judging how much alcohol has been consumed. Industry safety briefings have highlighted incidents of diversion, restraint and injury linked to passengers who drank their own alcohol in defiance of crew instructions.
From a legal standpoint, passengers found drinking their own alcohol on board can face more than confiscation. They may be removed from flights, refused carriage on future journeys and potentially prosecuted under aviation security and public order laws. EasyJet, like other carriers, stresses that the cabin is a controlled environment in which crew must be able to keep track of alcohol consumption for the safety of everyone on board.
Special Cases: Baby Food, Milk and Medical Liquids
One of the most important areas where allowances still exist is travel with babies and young children. UK government guidance permits parents and guardians to carry sufficient baby food, formula, cow’s milk and sterilised water for the journey, even when individual containers exceed the standard liquid limits. There is no legal cap on the number of baby food jars, pouches or milk bottles in hand luggage, though each airport may set its own practical screening procedures.
Breast milk receives particular treatment. Passengers can carry breast milk in their hand luggage even when travelling without the baby, provided each container does not exceed two litres and the milk is not frozen. Security staff may open and screen these containers separately. Frozen breast milk, by contrast, is not permitted in hand luggage but can be placed in checked baggage. These national rules apply regardless of airline and therefore also govern what EasyJet passengers can bring to the gate.
EasyJet’s own guidance for families echoes these national exemptions. The airline states that baby food, milk and sterilised water can be carried in hand baggage and used during the flight. Cabin crew can warm baby bottles on request, subject to safety considerations, and the airline explicitly supports breastfeeding at any time on board, including during take-off and landing, as long as appropriate seatbelts are used when required.
Medical liquids receive similar consideration. Medication, saline solutions and other essential fluids required during the journey are typically allowed beyond normal liquid limits when supported by evidence such as a prescription label or doctor’s letter. EasyJet advises passengers to keep vital medication in cabin baggage rather than in checked luggage, both to ensure access in flight and to avoid problems if hold baggage is delayed. Even so, these items remain subject to airport screening, and travellers may be asked to present documentation or submit to additional checks.
Food and Drink Onboard: What EasyJet Sells and What Has Changed
EasyJet operates a buy-on-board model for food and beverages, meaning that passengers in standard economy seats do not receive complimentary meals or drinks. Instead, a menu of snacks, light meals, hot drinks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages is sold from trolleys once cruising altitude is reached. Payment is usually by card or digital wallet, aligning with the airline’s broader cashless policy in the cabin.
In recent seasons, EasyJet has adjusted its onboard menu and service patterns in response to cost pressures and changing passenger expectations. Some short-haul routes now feature a more streamlined selection, with emphasis on pre-packaged snacks, sandwiches and simple hot items rather than full meal trays. Prices for certain items have edged upwards, reflecting inflation and supply chain costs, while the airline has sought to maintain a mix of budget-friendly options and slightly more premium products.
Free drinking water is a recurring point of debate among passengers. Officially, EasyJet crew will provide water on request, but the default is no longer a routine distribution of complimentary cups throughout the cabin. Instead, many travellers opt to buy bottled water from the onboard menu or to carry their own sealed bottles purchased after security. The shift reflects broader trends in European short-haul flying, where low-cost carriers have moved firmly away from inclusive catering toward an entirely pay-per-item system.
For those with dietary restrictions or allergies, the onboard menu provides labelling for common allergens such as nuts, dairy and gluten. Nonetheless, EasyJet warns that it cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment and that cross-contamination may be possible. Passengers with severe allergies are advised to bring their own safe food where possible, subject again to security rules and the airline’s restrictions on hot items and strong odours.
Brexit, Cross-Border Rules and What You Can Take Off the Plane
Beyond the aircraft itself, EasyJet passengers travelling between the UK and the European Union have to contend with additional rules on what food and drink can be carried across borders. Since the UK’s departure from the EU, strict prohibitions have been introduced on importing most meat and dairy products from the UK into the European Union. That means a ham sandwich or cheese-filled baguette prepared at home in Britain may be perfectly acceptable on board the flight but could be confiscated on arrival if a passenger attempts to take it through customs.
These import rules are enforced by border officials rather than the airline, yet they have become an important consideration for EasyJet’s largely leisure-focused UK customer base. Passengers are generally allowed to consume such items in transit or on the aircraft, but they are advised not to carry leftover meat or dairy products off the plane in their bags. Plant-based foods such as bread, fruit and many confectionery products are less heavily restricted, though fresh produce can still attract scrutiny in some jurisdictions.
The situation can be reversed on the return leg. Foods bought in EU supermarkets that contain meat or dairy are restricted when brought into the UK only in larger quantities, but passengers still need to be aware of customs rules on animal products, alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol allowances are particularly relevant for UK holidaymakers returning from European destinations, where low supermarket prices and duty-free offers remain a strong draw.
EasyJet’s role in this cross-border context is largely informational. The airline encourages passengers to consult official government guidance for both departure and arrival countries, emphasising that carrying prohibited animal products or exceeding alcohol limits can result in fines and confiscations. Cabin crew may make announcements on some routes reminding passengers not to take certain foods off the aircraft at destination, especially when flying into airports known for strict enforcement.
Practical Tips for EasyJet Passengers in the UK in 2026
For travellers planning an EasyJet flight from a UK airport this year, the central message is to separate airport security rules from airline cabin rules and to comply with both. Before travelling, passengers should check the latest liquid and hand luggage guidance for their specific departure airport, paying close attention to whether the traditional 100 millilitre limit remains in force or has been replaced by a two-litre allowance.
When packing, it is safest to stick to cold, solid foods that pose little spill risk and have mild odours. Hot takeaways, oversized liquid foods and loosely packed meals are increasingly likely to attract attention from both security officers and cabin crew. Anyone wishing to bring a substantial meal might consider packaging components separately, keeping sauces and dressings in small containers that fit within liquid rules until they are needed.
With alcohol, the rule is simple: sealed bottles are usually allowed on board, but only drinks bought from EasyJet’s own trolley may be consumed during the flight. Passengers can still make full use of duty-free offers but must wait until they reach their destination or home before opening bottles. Those planning to carry significant quantities of alcohol back to the UK or into the EU should confirm the latest customs allowances to avoid seizures at the border.
As UK aviation adjusts to new scanner technology and as low-cost carriers continue to refine their onboard offerings, food and drink policies are likely to evolve further. For now, EasyJet passengers who inform themselves in advance, pack conservatively and follow crew instructions will find the process of getting snacks and drinks onto and off the aircraft considerably smoother, even in a year of rapid regulatory change.