Unbelievably assinine, on the part of the airlines.  What does the comment have to do with "security" (now there's an illusion).  

It would be great if there was now a national trend of every few passengers sticking their heads towards the pilot or co-pilot as he/she greets them on board, and all saying, "HOPE YOU HAVEN"t BEEN..HIC...DRINKING".  What would happen then?  Total shutdown of the airline industry???

There's a book I read some time ago, by an author I don't quite recall, but the title was "The Death of Common Sense", which addresses much in the way of what happened in the situation you mentioned.  I mean, really???

Gene