The Top 13 Fast Food Chains

As a fast food junky myself, I must say that I was quite impressed with The Top 13s list of their Top Fast Food chain restaurants. I would much rather eat fast food than to cook something at home. Those who know me know I don't cook, but also know if I continually eat at fast food joints, I will gain weight like there is no tomorrow! So without further ado, here is the complete list from Top 13:

The Top 13 Fast Food Chains (this is copied from The Top 13 website)

Every day, roughly 45 million Americans will eat a meal from a fast food restaurant. Quite simply, fast food is an institution in American life, for better or for worse. Today's list counts down our favorite fast food chains. Since food is unquestionably a matter of taste and preference which can change on a whim, we narrowed this list down - and ranked it - by asking ourselves which restaurants we would stop at if we had our choice of any fast food chain. This list is limited to chains that operate in multiple states and either do not make food to order or offer the convenience of a drive-thru. In addition, we didn't take into account the healthfulness of the chains. With that out of the way, we present the Top 13 Fast Food Chains.

 This legendary California-based burger chain is a way of life for many living in the Western United States and is a must-stop on all of our trips to the Golden State. In-N-Out simply does burgers better than any other fast food chain. The chain is also beloved because it is still privately owned - there are no franchise locations - and the way it treats its employees, who are paid significantly more than minimum wage. The official menu is refreshingly simple, offering just three different kinds of burgers, as well as fries and shakes, but for those in the know, there is also a "secret" menu that allows you to order your burger "Animal Style" (with many toppings) or "Protein Style" (wrapped only in lettuce).

 Like In-N-Out, Chick-Fil-A pretty much only does one thing - in this case, chicken and typically of the fried variety - but they do it better than anyone else. Their basic sandwich, featuring a hand-cut and battered chicken breast topped simply with pickles on a buttered roll, is sublime, as are their waffle fries and chicken tenders and nuggets. They don't sell burgers at Chick-Fil-A, and that's fine. Our only complaint? All Chick-Fil-A locations are closed each and every Sunday.

 Wendy's narrowly beat out its arch-rival McDonald's for the third spot on this list. Each of the chains has its pros and cons, but Wendy's prevails here due to the consistently high quality of their food. Whether you order chicken or beef, Wendy's sandwiches consistently taste fresher and superior to those from the golden arches. Wendy's trump card is its fantastic spicy chicken sandwich, which has recently, at long last, been offered in chicken nugget form. We're also fans of the chain's thick shakes - known as frosties. Their fries, however, leave a little something to be desired.

 The 800 pound gorilla in any discussion of fast food chains, McDonald's employs nearly half a million people worldwide and is indisputably the king of fast food from a financial standpoint. In our view, this is just as much the product of the chain's superior advertising as it is the quality of their food. While McDonald's sandwiches are usually good - but not great - their fries are easily the best shoestring fries in the fast food game. McDonald's also has the best breakfast options of any of these chains. For many, however, none of their treats are as alluring as the classic McNugget, as the commercial below illustrates.

 Whataburger is like the In-N-Out Burger of Texas and surrounding states; it remains privately owned, it's focused on quality, and it doesn't try to be all things to all people. This chain keeps things simple, offering a basic menu of consistently solid burgers and other sandwiches which are supplemented by more varied promotional fare. For our money, Whataburger's shoestring fries are the closest competitor to McDonald's in terms of quality.

 Arby's will likely be a controversial choice for the sixth spot on this list, as people tend to either love or hate their roast beef sandwiches. Count us in the "love it" camp. In addition to those tasty sandwiches, Arby's also offers solid chicken fare and the best curly fries of any of these fast food chains. Arby's Sauce, which the chain puts atop their roast beef sandwiches, has legions of devoted fans, as evidenced by the many websites and discussions devoted to the condiment and how to make it at home. Plus, Arby's menu includes the terrific Jamocha shake, which isn't offered at other chains.

 Hands down, Taco John's is the best fast food Mexican chain, serving up better tasting and more original items than their chief competitors. The signature dish at Taco John's however, is actually a side item: Potato Olés - circular, seasoned tater tots - that can also be added to the chain's burritos (the famous Meat & Potato Burrito) or served up as "Super Potato Olés" (similar to deluxe nachos but with the Olés substituting for the chips). Unfortunately for our readers in the south and on the coasts, this Cheyenne, Wyoming-based chain is mostly located in the north and midwestern states.

Checkers (which is also known as Rally's in certain areas) has many solid food options, but they make this list primarily due to their uniquely delicious fries, which are spicy and crispy despite being larger than your typical shoestrings. Checkers' sandwiches are above average and are often available for low prices during frequent promotions. Their locations also typically sport a dual-drive through, a nice touch for getting your food fast.

 This staple of rural American fast food has many surprisingly good hot food choices (including chicken strips, burgers, and hot dogs), but it stands out enough to make this list by virtue of its frozen Blizzard shakes. The combination of whipped soft serve and sweets of your choice was a childhood favorite for us, and temptation strikes every time we pass a DQ. Plus, Dairy Queen offers the best birthday cakes in the business.

Fatburger, another California-based burger chain, offers somewhat unique burger options - it's the only one of the chains on this Top 13 that features a turkey burger as a regular menu item, and adding a fried egg is an option as well. While we prefer In-N-Out, Fatburger is not far behind by virtue of the quality of its ingredients, which seem to be a cut above most fast food chains. Several prominent hip hop artists are proud owners of Fatburger franchises, including Kanye West, Pharrell, and Queen Latifah

 Fried chicken is one of the oldest and most popular types of fast food in America, and for our money the New Orleans-originated Popeye's - which serves theirs in boxes, not buckets - is the best of the bunch. This is largely due to the presence of a spicy chicken option, flavored with Popeye's humorously named "Cajun Sparkle" seasoning. Their sides are hit-or-miss, but the red beans and rice and onion rings (where available) trump the choices you'll find at KFC.

Sub-style sandwich shops are among the most popular fast food options in America and around the world; Subway, the largest of the bunch, is the biggest single-restaurant chain in the world, even bigger than McDonald's. While we do enjoy a good sub, we rarely pick them over the less healthy, fried foods that dominate this list, and that is why you'll only see one sub chain here. Despite the ubiquity of Subway and its competitor, Quizno's, we prefer the midwest-based Jimmy John's, where the sandwich options and toppings fall somewhere between the two leaders and the bread is superior.

 Let's get this out of the way - nothing about the Kansas-born White Castle is premium in quality. In fact, the food is quite poor, but somehow White Castle, unlike virtually every other fast food chain, is able to turn this into a perceived strength by offering large quantities of those little, good-in-a-bad-way burgers for low prices. The chain has been repeatedly name-checked in movies, music, and television, most notably in songs by the Beastie Boys and in the film Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Aware of its low-budget charm, some White Castle locations even offer reservations for a sit-down dinner on Valentine's Day, complete with table service and sodas served in champagne flutes.

Now, two of my favorites to bring the Top 13 to the Top 15:

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual dining establishment that serves authentic San Fransisco-style burritos and tacos. Founded and based in Denver, Colorado, Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle near the University of Denver in 1993. As of March 2009, there were more than 830 Chipotle restaurants, all of which are company owned, not franchised. McDonald's Corporation used to own a majority interest in Chipotle but they sold their entire stake in 2006. Steve Ells serves as chairman and CEO of Chipotle.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop began in 1977 as a small antique store run by a nice young couple. Despite the fast-paced, never-a-dull-moment world of antique dealing, the couple decided to bolster their business by making sandwiches for their customers. What began as a lark, turned out to be a stroke of genius. Soon, people who couldn't care less about vintage glass doorknobs were stopping by to enjoy special sandwiches and homemade desserts in this unusual atmosphere.

What's in a Tattoo?

Over the years, I remember my dad telling me how disgusting it was seeing people with tattoo's. Well, he really never officially said it, but he had a dislike for tattoo's themselves. It was kind of funny because one of his good friends owned a tattoo shop and I remember visiting him often at the shop on several occasions.

Fast forward a few years. I've thought about getting a tattoo close to 20years now...geez, has it been that long now? Well, anyway, I've been thinking about getting a tattoo that has a lot of meaning for me. One that would remind me of the two best years of my life. Those years happened after I graduated high school and marched with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL.

I wasn't sure what type of tattoo I wanted, but several had come to mind.

One was what we called the "Standing Man". In 2003, a few alumni and I were talking and we thought about getting this tattoo somewhere on our bodies. Well, one actually did it and put it on his calf, while the other two chickened out. Of course it turned out really cool and I really wanted to get one, but I was way too nervous to actually do it. I didn't know if I wanted this or not as well as know where I would put the tattoo, would I put it on my calf, arm, shoulder-blade? I just didn't know.

Another option was to get the "Guido" head shot. This is a little more detailed and up close, but again would remind me of the hard work, dedication, the many miles we traveled, marched, and the countless number of new friends (brothers) I would make not only during my two years of marching, but the new friends I would make over the years from the great organization. The idea again went to where would I put this tattoo? I couldn't come up with a good idea, and just never thought about it again.

Two other options I thought about which linked to the Corps itself: a 'Rainbow' tattoo (as one of the two corps songs is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), or a 'Rose' tattoo (because the corps has been sponsored by The Village of Rosemont, IL since 1982.) Neither of these really struck me close to home, but I kept thinking to myself how I could remember those wonderful years. What am I missing that when I look at this tattoo (which will be forever) that I could say "yeah, I worked hard for that tattoo, and made some very lasting friends and grew up because of them"

It finally donned on me during 2003. I got laid off of work for 5 months, and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. It was Summer time! That meant the corps was already on tour, and I could finish out the rest of the season volunteering my time with them giving them my 'expertise' (or help) with administrative duties, or better yet, help drive one of the Support Vehicles, or Souvenir truck.

A few of the current marching members had tattoo's that resembled another 'nick-name' that was associated with the corps. "The Green Machine".  The Cavaliers marching was so precise, that when they marched around the football field, they literally looked like a moving machine. You could usually hear a pin drop in the stadium because the crowd was so intent in what the corps was doing, or waiting to see what kind of drills would be made.

Some of the young guys had 'Gear' tattoo's. Gears resembled this well oiled machine. We received 1 gear for each year we marched with the corps, and a separate gear for being initiated. These gears would be worn around our necks. New guys didn't have any gears as they haven't completed a full year marching. Some only had 1 gear, while the 'old guys' would have 5-10 gears.

Since 2003, I knew I wanted a tattoo, but just couldn't bring myself to actually getting it done. Now that I've narrowed it down to either the 'Guido', 'Standing Man', or 'Gear', the question became where was I going to put it. I couldn't put it too far down my arm due to work (they look down on tattoo's), and I didn't want to have it always covered up when I was off duty. Did I want to put it on my leg? What about my shoulder blade where I've seen other tattoo's?

One of my great friends here in Minneapolis already has several tattoo's, so we were talking about me getting one finally. He has a tribal band around his arm that he altered to put a lightening bolt in, as well as a dragon tattoo down his forearm.

As we were talking, he kept asking me what I wanted, or where I wanted to put it. I mentioned the shoulder blade, but he made a very good point as when would I ever be able to see it and enjoy it. He knew this tattoo meant a lot to me, so why not put it in a place where I could see it. So, I finally made my decision. The upper part of my left arm. I chose the gear along with the two years that I marched. I chose the Green, Black, and White as it's the corps' colors as well, but I didn't think the white would really come out well. The Tattoo artist at Saint Sabrina's did an outstanding job!

I gave her two idea's of what I wanted. I wanted the gear to be 3-D, as well as colored. I told her about the significance of the gear and years and this is what she came up with. I'm extremely happy to finally have something that forever links me to an organization that means so much to me.

I was surprised that it didn't hurt as much as I was expecting. I suppose that the technology has changed so much over the years that it's gotten a lot better than it was in year's past. The funny thing is, I'm already thinking about putting the 'Guido' tattoo on my other arm where the feather would go off onto my back....what do you think?

When the seatbelt sign goes on, it doesn't mean to get up and stretch

One of the things that continues to amaze me as a cabin safety professional is how the general public does not regard the safety precautions that are in place for their own safety.

Per Federal Aviation Regulation 121.317, Passenger information requirements, smoking prohibitions, and additional seat belt requirements states: A certificate holder may operate a nontransport category airplane type certificated after December 31, 1964, that is manufactured before December 20, 1997, if it is equipped with at least one placard that is legible to each person seated in the cabin that states “Fasten Seat Belt,” and if, during any movement on the surface, for each takeoff, for each landing, and at any other time considered necessary by the pilot in command, a crewmember orally instructs the passengers to fasten their seat belts.

I am continually amazed at how when the flight starts to get turbulent, and the crew members are having difficulty walking about the cabin performing their duties, and the captain will turn on the seatbelt sign, it never fails that at least 3-5 people will get up and stretch. They do this as if "HAHA, look at me, I can defy the seatbelt sign". 

Well, here are some reports to show that one should NOT get up out of their seat while the seatbelt sign is on. (well, it is common sense isn't it?)

People were flying around 
Three people were injured due to turbulence 
Seven slightly injured after Qantas plane plummets due to turbulence 
26 passengers injured by turbulence on Continental plane 
 Flight Attendants and passengers injured due to turbulence on Air Canada 

Even when the sign is not on, you should always keep your seatbelt on because you never know when that "Clear Air Turbulence" is going to hit. It may be an extremely smooth flight, you forget that you are flying in a metal tin can and BOOM, you drop 500-1000ft in seconds without any notice.  

Whenever I travel, I keep my seatbelt on just like I do while driving or riding in a car. You never know when another idiot is going to sideswipe you and you could be in a serious accident. Yet, people don't care for not only their own safety, but the safety of those around them. 

Please use common sense and just remain in your seat. Remember that if you do get up and the cabin crew are strapped in their seats, it's probably a good idea to immediately take your seat. They are required to inform you that "Per the FAA, the seatbelt sign is illuminated". Don't just ignore them and do your own thing, it is not just for your safety, but to those around you as well.
 

Sorry been so absent

Over the past two months, there really hasn't been anything to talk about. I don't know how these daily bloggers are able to come up with witty things to say day in and day out. I can barely come up with something every few months.

Not much has really happened in my life. I had vacation last month for two weeks, but due to lack of funds, I didn't do anything. It was actually very nice to just be at home and enjoy going out to dinner with friends then going to the bar afterwords. The 19 Bar in Minneapolis is a great place to meet up with great friends. Even though I really like the Saloon bar, I have become to like the 19 Bar because the drinks are much, much cheaper. Some of my other friends like the Saloon because it's more 'trendy', but the 'home' atmosphere, great bartenders really make it fun and exciting. Did I mention the drinks were cheap?

Since my last post, I've been following the Toyota Recall regarding accelerator problems. It was thought to be linked to either a stuck pedal due to floor mats, or just a stuck pedal. Well, the latest news is showcasing that even after Toyota has fixed the recalled parts, they are now looking at the electronics associated with the pedal and accelerating.

My car has had no issues...yet. I do know that when I bought my 1994 Pontiac Grand Am in 1994, I was driving down a stretch of highway where the car just took off on it's own. I did what we were taught to do in Driving 101, put the car in neutral and pull off the side of the road. It just appears that people have forgotten the basics in how to drive. I'm sure it's going to be a while before Toyota knows exactly what's going on, but considering the relatively low number of deaths, or situations vs. the number of cars they have recall, they are doing an outstanding job.

I was able to finish last month with two great trips. I was able to enjoy some sunshine on the beach of Miami (even if it was for just a little over an hour) but it was nice to get outside in short sleeves.

I even had a seagull come by and check me out. I guess he thought I had food since I had a coffee cup with me and wanted to scavenge a bit. It was kinda funny though. It made me remember a family vacation in 1997 where my entire family had gotten together and went to Atlantic City, NJ.

We were enjoying ourselves on the beach, had just gotten some food out when a seagull swoops down and steals a sandwich out of my dads hand. It was funny because he had spent all morning making the sandwiches, and knew how devilish the birds were, and just forgot how bold they could be. It really made us laugh at the situation, definitely makes for great memories not just of the vacation, but my dad as well.

I am so excited for July 17th! I finally bought tickets for DCI Minnesota and they arrived at the house this past week. I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to get the upper deck, but we will be between the 45 yard lines and will be watching this all day event at the TCF Stadium at the University of Minnesota. I'm not sure if anyone else is as excited in the event (who's going with me) as I am, or if they will want to be there for the entire day. I plan on watching every single corps, especially since this is a major event for all the corps. Kinda makes me wonder if any of the corps will be adding some of their new closers for this show since it's directly in the middle of the summer. Well, to think of it, I guess it is a bit early for new endings...one can hope, right?

Well, that's it for now. I can't think of anything else to gab on about. I may be doing more updates this month since I'm on Reserve, but don't hold your breath!

Until next time,
Sluggo

I haven't blogged in nearly 2 months??!!

I know, I know...I am such a bad blogger. Sorry about that. I can't believe how some of these daily, if not hourly, bloggers do it! I just don't know what to talk about...my life isn't that interesting!

Well, my month is nearly done, as is the first month of 2010. I held an availability line, which I don't care for, but actually ended up working some good trips. I was able to do several JFK-LAX trips, a JFK-SFO trip, a LGA-ORD turn, and am now getting ready to do a 3-day LGA-BNA, BNA-DFW-SMF, SMF-DFW-LGA trip. It's been a very long time since I've been to Sacramento, but knowing me, I'll be busy doing more homework at the hotel.

Speaking of homework, I actually passed my last math semester. It was by the skin of my teeth, but needless to say, I passed it. Hopefully I won't have to deal with any more math. I think if I actually dealt with math everyday, I would have paid more attention to it, or even tried harder back in high school.

Well, I don't have much to talk about...OH!!!  Actually I do!

I just upgraded my 2006 Toyota Camry for a 2010 Toyota Camry two weeks ago.  I know with the recent news about the accelerator sticking and causing the car to accelerate out of control, I'm not worried. I actually had a Pontiac Grand Am, that had it's accelerator stick shortly after I purchased it back in 1994.

Anyway, shortly after I bought..er...upgraded my Camry, the dealership offered to put in a new sunroof. Not only did I get a sunroof, I got a really top of the line one!

The model is from Webasto - Hollandia TVS 900. It didn't take them long to install the sunroof, (4hrs) and tonight will be the first night I can actually try it out...(even though it's like 10 degrees outside)

Well, that's it for now. After this 3-day trip, I'm off until February 20th due to vacation time. Until then, stay warm...only a few more days until Punxsutawney Phil may (or may not) see his shadow!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Alcohol in the Sky

Now that the holidays are here, many people will be flying home for the holidays. Along with the thousands of people in the airport, mechanical delays, and weather delays, most travelers will make it a point to stop by an airport restaurant and/or bar and have a drink or two.

This is great to have a beverage during a lengthy delay, but do remember that Federal Air Regulations 121.575, and 91.17 state that  "No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated", as well as, "no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft." 

Alright, well those regulations are for restricting drunk passengers get onto the airplane, but what about while on the plane?  Believe it or not, the same FARs hold true, and when a passenger gets out of hand in-flight, they could be met by law enforcement upon arrival...something you don't want to have happen!  

So whose to blame if you get intoxicated while in-flight? Well, it actually comes down to the consumer.  Flight Attendants aren't bar tenders, and with all the other Safety Related things they need to worry about while working, a drunk passenger shouldn't be one of them.  


One thing people need to know about alcohol and flying, is it affects your body differently in the plane, than it does while on the ground. The cabin altitude is generally set between 5,000 and 7,000 feet-meaning that there’s less oxygen to breathe. While your blood alcohol level remains the same as it would be at sea level, it feels as if you’ve drunk a lot more. Never mind that the cabin humidity is often less than 10 percent, and that alcohol dehydrates you.

Over the years, there have been many issues where you may have heard about intoxicated passengers:

DUI in the Sky, Drunk passenger gets jail time, has to reimburse AA $7,757, Court to decide whether Delta can be sued for alcohol sales to name a few.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't drink...by all means, DRINK, just drink moderately. Do remember that the altitude will affect your body differently than you would be at sea level, so be careful. Just because you normally drink 5 beverages at the bar, doesn't mean you can actually handle 5 beverages in the air. A plane is not a bar. If someone drinks too much at their favorite tavern, they can push that person out the door and call him a cab. Try doing that at 30,000 feet.

If your drink gets low, don't ever say “Hey, stewardess!”  The term “stewardess” and “steward” are widely considered to be archaic, if not derogatory. They are especially offensive if they’re used while, at the same time, you repeatedly press the flight attendant “call” button over your seat. Flight attendants are not airborne waiters. They are bona fide crew members who have undergone many hours of safety training. Yeah, they serve drinks but if the plane goes down, they can also save your butt.

To quote a selection from Christopher Elliott's page which highlight some idea's about alcohol on flights.

1. Alcohol heightens a stressful experience.
Unless you haven’t flown in a few years, you probably know that air travel is getting more stressful. Alcohol can make it worse, say experts. “Drinking on planes has unique hazards, particularly as flying becomes more stressful,” says Karen Sternheimer, a sociologist who teaches at the University of Southern California. “If there is a long delay on the tarmac the irritation can be magnified by alcohol.” At a bare minimum, passengers need to be sober enough to understand and cooperate with crew instructions. “Under increasingly stressful conditions, too much alcohol can make a simple annoyance into a serious problem,” she adds.
2. There’s nowhere to run.
Anywhere else, you can walk away from an unruly drunk. But not on a plane. “It’s a metal tube and blasting off at hundreds of miles per hour,” says Jeffrey Lord, a veteran frequent flier based in Burlington, Vt. (Lord believes alcohol isn’t the only problem on a plane. “How about spending hours strapped in with these stressed-out companions with nothing other than caffeinated beverages being served?” he asks. Good point.)

3. Drinks on a plane aren’t just intoxicating — they’re toxic.
“Higher altitudes do amplify the affect of alcohol, which, as you can imagine, can cause problems for passengers that imbibe too much,” says Ashley Halsey, a spokeswoman for American Behavioral, a healthcare organization that specializes in drug and alcohol abuse and treatment for employers. “Because alcohol impairs judgment, the likelihood of violent or other anti-social behavior is increased. When people fly, they also get dehydrated, and alcoholics tend to drink alcohol instead of water, which tends to increase their adverse reaction.”
4. It’s annoying.
Just listen to Terry Ward’s account of her last flight from Orlando to Newark. “I sat next to a group of guys who were on their way to Montreal for a boys’ weekend,” she remembers. “They started drinking right after we took off and didn’t stop. Hard liquor the whole flight.
I thought the flight attendants would stop serving them but they didn’t, because one of the guys was tipping them $20 each round.” Instead of cutting off the passengers, she made all of their drinks doubles, as they requested. “It was completely obnoxious,” she adds.
5. It’s embarrassing, too.
Who doesn’t have a story to tell about having one too many on a plane? Here’s Denise Vardakas’. She and her mother were flying from San Diego to Grand Cayman, and on their final leg they enjoyed “endless Jack and Diet Cokes.” She adds, “We were having a great time chatting with the crew members, and a few of our fellow passengers.” On their way back a week later, the same crewmembers greeted them as the “Jack and Diet” ladies. Oh, my.
6. You could relapse.
If you’re off the booze, a plane trip is a relapse waiting to happen, say experts. “I’m still constantly surprised by how many of my patients will relapse or overdrink on planes,” says Carrie Wilkens, the co-founder and clinical director of the Center for Motivation & Change, a private group practice in New York that specializes in treating addiction and compulsive behaviors.
“It’s gotten to the point where I’ve heard it as a therapist so regularly that now, when any one of my clients is planning a trip, I tell them, ‘OK, we have to make up a plan for how you’re going to manage this flight.’” Her patients inevitably agree that they drink more in the air, and take precautions to avoid it.
7. How are you getting home?
Even if you survive your flight without incident, there remains the issue of getting back home. If you’re planning to drive, you might keep the case of Dana Papst in mind. A few years ago, after disembarking from a US Airways flight on which he was served alcohol, he crashed his car, killing himself and five others. The FAA later cleared the airline of any wrongdoing.
I don’t consider myself a modern-day prohibitionist, but I think these practical reasons for keeping the skies alcohol-free make sense.
Why not wait until you’re home to crack open a bottle? It could make your next flight a better one — if not save your life.

As on the ground, if you must drink in-flight, please drink responsibly and know when you are starting to get tipsy. Don't leave it up to the Flight Crew to put a stop to your enjoyment. Be sure to drink plenty of water, more than you normally would while at a regular bar on the ground.