Worried over growing number of cases involving drunken pilots and cabin crew, government is finalising stricter anti-alcohol rules where aircraft operators would have to ensure that crew members stay off alcohol much before a flight.

The new draft rules, formulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, categorically states that even 12 hours after a bout of drinking, when blood alcohol level is virtually zero, there was a decrement in task performance which could jeopardise flight safety.