It is common knowledge that replicas of firearms and explosives are not allowed on U.S flights, but what others may not know is that this rule also applies to fictional weapons.
Earlier this month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed to a Twitter user that the thermal detonator-inspired Coca-Cola souvenir bottles — which are being sold in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and soon to be sold at Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida — are not allowed in carry-on or checked bags on flights.
Thanks for asking! Replica and inert explosives aren't allowed in either carry-on or checked bags.
— AskTSA (@AskTSA) August 13, 2019
The souvenir bottles come with a regular soda bottle cap under the decorative lid. But even if the decorative lids are removed, the TSA told a Star Wars fan on Twitter that the bottles would still not be allowed through security.
Even with a normal bottle cap, this item is still considered a replica and is not allowed in carry-on or checked bags. If our officers discover a replica item during screening and believe it's real, the item will be treated as such until advised otherwise by law enforcement.
— AskTSA (@AskTSA) August 28, 2019
A lot of Star Wars fans find the TSA’s rule absurd, arguing that thermal detonators don’t exist in the real world, and even if they exist, the souvenir bottles are clearly not exact copies of the palm-sized, spherical devices that are depicted as extremely deadly explosive weapons in the Star Wars universe.
This is beyond overreach. The bottles don’t look like any real explosive device In the world – unless we’re living in a movie / cartoon. Come on… are Nerf Toys allowed? What about empty POM bottles? Was this vetted by TSA? pic.twitter.com/0Bn373jrCy
— MINDCRAFT.film (@Mindcraft_film) August 28, 2019
Any fool can see they are Star Wars coke and sprite. What is wrong with TSA. Not smart enough to know Coke and Sprite from thermal detonators. Come on that is just to stupid even for tsa
— Disney Fan 1 (@Tpafun1) August 28, 2019
Hmm last I checked these round drink bottles look nothing like this item shown in the movie it’s just a round bottle whats next a little ball would be considered a weapon pic.twitter.com/1pFUp3sA3g
— GFSirJames (@SirJames1990) August 27, 2019
Fu¢king Dumb@$$ government worker. A replica? It doesn’t look anything like a bomb. Over reaching government is killing this nation. I guess you’ll put me on a no fly list now just to get your kicks.
— ken ezzell (@Oh_Ezzell) August 28, 2019
These are not replica explosives under any legal definition of the term. Don’t abuse your position.
— John Vanderbeck (@JohnVanderbeck) August 28, 2019
To replicate is to directly copy…this isn’t a replica.
You people continue to show your stupidity at every turn.
No wonder you’re the only government entity more hated than the DMV.
— Tom West (@JokerTomWest) August 28, 2019
This is absurd. Furthermore they do not actually look like the explosive in the movie. Also. Thermal detonators are not real.
— Tara Elizabeth Grieb (@TaraGrieb) August 28, 2019
Despite the official confirmation from the TSA, The Verge reported that some guests had been able to slip through security with their souvenir bottles just fine.
Unveiled last April, the thermal detonator-inspired Coca-Cola souvenir bottles come in three color schemes: red for Coke, silver for Diet Coke, and green for Sprite. The bottles’ spherical shape is a nod to the skittish but loyal astromech BB-8.While the bottles still have brand names on them, the labels are written in Aurebesh — one of the fictional languages used in the epic space opera franchise.
“The design of this thing just looks cool,” Walt Disney Imagineering portfolio creative executive Scott Trowbridge said of the collection back in April. “[It’s] kind of thermal detonator-ish. It’s kind of awesome.”