Since 2006, airports and liquids have had a tricky relationship.
In response to a foiled terrorist plot in the UK, where attackers planned to bring liquid explosives onto planes disguised in drink bottles, aviation authorities introduced emergency security measures
This limited the volume of liquids passengers could carry in hand luggage.
Although this is starting to change with the rollout of new scanners, liquids are usually limited to just 100ml containers at airport security.
Once ‘airside’, passengers are welcome to purchase bigger bottles.
But one man, @gymtanbeef on Instagram, shared how he managed to get water through security – though it might not be your typical drinking water.
In a video posted to social media, footage shows the fitness and lifestyle coach going through airport security and passing a tray over with his belongings to be scanned.
‘Waters can’t go, okay?’ a security worker says.
One man, @gymtanbeef on Instagram, shared how he managed to get water through security – though it might not be your typical drinking water (stock)
‘That’s medical grade water, it’s sealed and you can test it on your little machine that you have,’ he replies.
The worker then passes the bottle through the machine before handing it back to the traveller and says: ‘Alright, have a good one!’
Medical grade water is a ‘sterile purified water that has undergone reverse osmosis and deionisation processes,’ according to Chemicals.co.uk. It’s typically used in laboratory or medical settings.
However, there are mixed reports as to whether medical grade water should be consumed, and Office H2O warns against it.
‘In short, deionised water can be harmful to your health, which is why it is best that deionised water be used for industrial purposes only,’ they write.
The Instagram user then went on to explain how planes can dehydrate passengers in the caption.
He writes: ‘Airplane flights dehydrate you primarily because of the dry cabin environment and other in-flight factors.
‘The air at high altitudes has very low humidity, and even though the cabin is pressurized, the humidity levels inside the plane are typically much lower than what you’d experience on the ground—often around 10–20%.
There are mixed reports as to whether medical grade water should be consumed, and Office H2O warns against it
‘This dry air causes moisture to evaporate more quickly from your skin, mouth, and respiratory tract, leading to gradual dehydration.’
The influencer explains how drinking other beverages, like tea or coffee, can worsen dehydration.
‘Drinking coffee, tea, or alcohol during the flight can make dehydration worse because these beverages have a mild diuretic effect, increasing urine production,’ he writes.
‘Sitting still for long periods can also affect circulation, causing fluids to pool in your legs and reducing overall hydration levels.
‘Common signs of in-flight dehydration include dry skin, chapped lips, fatigue, headaches, and darker urine. To stay hydrated, it helps to drink plenty of water throughout the flight, limit caffeine and alcohol.’
The Instagram post triggered a mixed reaction, with some suggesting just taking an empty water bottle through and filling it afterwards instead.
One penned: ‘I just bring an empty water bottle and refill it at the fountain.’
While someone else added: ‘But… you can buy water as soon as you get through security?’
The Instagram user then went on to explain how planes can dehydrate passengers in the caption (stock)
Water bottles aren’t the only things that cause issues in the security gates.
One woman who flew for the first time in 15 years set the internet talking after sharing that her crotch got her stopped during a security scan.
Writing on Reddit, the woman said: ‘I flew for the first time in 15 years this week and both airports flagged my crotch at the arms up scanner. I don’t care about the pat down, they were polite and professional and it doesn’t bother me, but I’m wondering what did it.’
She added that she was wearing bike shorts and normal underwear and had no medical devices or piercings.
Another traveller explained that the woman might have been flagged because she was sweating.
