Who drank 52 beers on a flight?

The Legend of David Boon’s 52-Beer Flight

It sounds like the plot of a wild comedy sketch, but it’s true: Australian cricketer David Boon once downed 52 cans of beer on a single flight. The year was 1989, and the destination was England for the Ashes series. The journey? A long-haul Qantas flight from Australia to London.

Boon, known more for his gritty batting than his drinking habits, turned this trip into legend. Over the course of the flight, he reportedly consumed one can of lager every 12 minutes—adding up to a staggering 52 cans. That’s over 17 litres of beer, possibly closer to 19.5 litres if you account for larger can sizes. To put that in perspective, it’s like chugging more than three cases of beer at 35,000 feet.

The story became cricket folklore, often told with a mix of disbelief and admiration. While it may sound like an exaggeration, it was later confirmed by teammates and even airline staff. In fact, the tale earned such notoriety that in 2002, Qantas even ran an ad campaign playing on the incident, with Boon himself poking fun at his own legend.

Interestingly, Boon didn’t do it for bragging rights—he later admitted it was partly boredom, partly camaraderie, and perhaps a hint of pre-tour nerves. Despite the feat, he went on to have a strong Ashes campaign, proving that even the most unlikely stories can have respectable endings.

Today, the “52 beers” anecdote remains one of cricket’s most enduring off-field moments—a blend of humor, audacity, and the unshakable Australian spirit. And while modern air travel might frown on such antics, David Boon’s name will forever be linked to one of the thirstiest flights in history.