OTTAWA — Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn has apologized for throwing a temper tantrum over a security officer's attempt to confiscate his bottle of tequila, but insists he was not seeking preferential treatment.

In a statement released Friday, the Quebec minister confirms that he asked the bottle of booze be "destroyed" because it exceeded the 100 ml limit.

"At no point did I request preferential treatment; it’s not in my nature," he said. "Granted, I was definitely upset at what happened, and I apologize to those I could have offended. That being said, the rule is clear. The officers applied the rule. And I complied unequivocally."

Blackburn came under fire in the House of Commons, with Liberals accusing Blackburn of showing "brazen disregard" for air safety regulations and breaching the very same security rules he announced on behalf of the Conservative government.

The controversy comes just days after Status of Women Helena Guergis threw a tantrum at a PEI airport, calling Charlottetown a "hellhole" during an outburst she later apologized for.

kathleen.harris@sunmedia.ca