International News
Prydz on Swedish House Mafia
“I always really wanted to go my own way. I’m not part of the collective known... [more]
With Australia well and truly enveloped by festival fever of late, I’ve been looking across the globe as various big name events taking place across the northern hemisphere’s summer. New festival All Points West took place recently, and while festival-goers took in amazing views of the New York City skyline while listening to Underworld, The Roots, Radiohead and Chromeo, they also had to accept a restriction that could be coming to a festival near you; a five drink limit.
On entering the gates of Liberty State Park in New Jersey, punters were given a wristband with five rippable tabs. When you bought a drink, the barman would remove a tab. Once all five tabs were gone, you are done drinking for the day. This restriction could make for a better audience, filled full of music fans wanting to see the bands on stage rather than getting wasted. It would be a huge relief to event organisers, who can actually say that they promote responsible serving of alcohol.
Would Australian festival-goers take this negatively, given how much they enjoy good music with a good drink? Would the same kind of fans who chant, “F*ck you, I won’t do what you tell me!” roll over and accept that they are limited to only five whisky and cokes? With scalpers causing tickets to reach all time highs, would we see a resellers market for drink tabs on site? As a person who can exercise self-control when it comes to having a beer, having a promoter dictate to me how many drinks I can buy definitely loses some cool points from me.
Would you boycott a festival that restricted the amount of alcohol that you can purchase? Or do you want promoters to implement such a system if it meant for better crowds?
that_courtney says...
This would be a very big issue for festival goers. It is socially acceptable for people to get totally sloshed in Australia, and even more so at a festival. These festivals are big, ten or more hour events that get people dancing and often quite 'loose'. There is already a huge culture of drug takers at festivals, in fact i'd probably be safe to say that 80% of the people attending these festivals are on something. If there was to be a rule brought in for a drink limit, not only would the sale of tickets drop dramatically, but the earnings of the promoters of the festival would also. This is not to say that people who attend the festival won't be spending the same amount of money as they would have without the limit, in fact they would probably be spending more, and little of that would be going to any of the organisers. Drugs are so common, and at the V Festival in Sydney earlier this year they reported in the papers to have caught something like 74 people smuggling drugs into the festival, out of about 40, 000 or something like that. It was made out that this was a great thing for that sort of percentage of people to be caught. How about the other 30,000 or so people who still ended up getting their drugs into the festival. For so long there has always been a culture of drug taking at festivals, it was thought that LSD made the hippies feel more in touch with the music back in the 70's. We now have a lot more information about the effects that drugs have, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone from not actually taking them. If you think about it, in Australian culture, you go to a BBQ and it is a general idea that you bring some sort of alcohol, right? So just say for you, you bring a 6 pack, that's 6 drinks over maybe a 3 hour period, 5 drinks over say, 10 hours, is really not right. There are a lot of people going to festivals, who would rather be dancing and singing along to the music rather than standing in line for drinks, if you have 4 friends, and you go to get a round for them so they can continue listening to the music, that's all your drinks gone. Guys buy drinks for girls a lot, and really a limit on having that will really be putting a negative vibe on the festival. Less socialising, Less dancing, Less Drinking, More time lining up and More drug taking. It's probably the worst thing any festival organiser in Australia could do.
fatman1234 says...
I'm still under 0.05 BAC after 5 standard drinks in an hour, i wouldn't be going to that festival.
angus_869 says...
Noooo! 5 drinks for the day is nothing. Its just gonna make everyone take more drugs than they already do haha.
burnthestation says...
This limit was mainly imposed because this festival took place in a state park. State parks in New Jersey are usually dry zones and it was hard for the promoters to get approval for drinking restrictions without proving it would be a responsible supplier of alcohol, such as by imposing a five drink limit and by drinking being only allowed in an enclosed area (beer garden). Being that this everything ran smoothly and that the festival was in it's inaugural year fingers crossed the rules are relaxed for next year!
Astrid-Aurora says...
I'm all for a drink limit. Nothing kills my vibe more than being surrounded by drunk losers throwing their empty cans at the stage, and nearly getting knocked over by guys who can't stand up straight.
dirkchops says...
Actually this "We need to make sure you've not said anything naughty" pisses me off more than promoters limiting alcohol consumption, is this a public forum or what?
dirkchops says...
The same people that act like nice ones when they're drunk will still act like nice ones when they substitute booze for drugs, and if I didn't have the ability to ignore those fools i wouldn't go to the festivals in the first place - so i say fuck it, doesn't affect me.
waladr says...
We are not Puritan's...we are Australian and the scene needs to go deep if this rubbish continues! It went global but we do not need to be dictated too. Trust people and they will have respect. If people are not, then ensure security does their job and kick them out! Their waist of money on the ticket then!
goldfishz says...
It's a catch 22 really; trying to be responsible as organisers but then taking away the rights of adults. I personally will stop going if they bring it in here. I think events like concerts charge so much for alcohol anyway, it's getting harder to drink more than 5!
Winkers says...
Way to take more rights from people that do the right thing so the festival organisers can reduce their security and other costs associated with RSA. This is no solution to the problem, it will only again increase the consumption of drugs. It's already easier for festival goers to pop a few pills than it is to line up for drinks and pay the extraordinary prices that SOME festivals charge. So really all this is going to do is increase the amount of idiots that take too many drugs and either pass out or have a psychotic episode. YAY! NOT A big no from Winkers!
yani_s says...
People are usually wasted when they get to the front gates
ryzieh says...
Has anyone thought about how difficult this would be for someone to buy a round of drinks.. I know generally when i go to a festival its a time to catch up with a whole lot of my friends, and we're often taking turns to scoot off to the bar to buy everyone else drinks in an effort to allow everyone to see more of the show, rather than have one drink, and see an act for 20 minutes, and go spend 30 back in the bar lines! I'm all for keeping people in line who've had too much - but isn't that the whole point of having bar-tenders, and shouldn't they be the ones who cut people off before it gets to that point? Has anyone ever been at a festival where someone's been cut off from the bar for having been to drunk? Of late i've been to a few festivals and i've been experienced to so many more new festival comers (young people) who are more inebriated from an excessive amount of drug consumption than alcohol, or at least both together, and if the alcohol intake was going to be curbed then undoubtedly it'd just cause people to go the illegal option and bring it in. All in all i guess that i wouldn't bother going to a festival i was considering if they did something like this, having said that i'm getting to the stage where i'd prefer a club night with a banging sound system and my favourite festival dj headlining the night before / night of the festival, rather than stand in the open with 20,000 people off their faces to appreciate the artist i'm there to see, not to see how f*
beachbella says...
A 5 drink limit is bull sh*t!! Festival goer's would just down more drinks before they enter. And as another member said they'd just take more drugs.
adeacon says...
I was in the US / Canada for Pemberton Festival in BC (Also in it's inaugral year), Lollapalooza, and All Points West. I can tell you that the drink limit imposed at all points west had a huge NEGATIVE impact on the crowd. Underworld played to a crowd standing still, KIngs of Leon had no mosh pit, and I fell asleep during Radiohead. On the other hand, Lollapalooza had bars everywhere with no lines, which was amazing considering the 80,000 plus crowd. They were selling BOTTLES of wine in sports bottles which could later be used to relieve yourself without having to line up for the portaloos!! Classic! And the crowd went off without fights or anything. We definitely would Boycott any festival trying to impose similar limits, it just encourages more people to sneak stuff in. Can't wait for Aussie festival season to kick in again.
AMPP says...
If people want to get wasted they will by either having pre-drinks or smuggling in hip flasks etc.. I would be surprised if this was brought in here as there is way too much $$$ to be made by promoters selling heaps of drinks!
mischief79 says...
if it stops groups of drunk beefcake monkeys grappling each other and knocking chicks over in festival crowds it would be a good thing. security at festivals seem more intent on stopping fence jumpers and drug users....farkin joke.
adwho says...
Obviously you guys havn't heard of Quantum Relic. It is alcohol free and all abouth the music, culture, and performances. Not getting off your bundy them fight words face. I would suggest if you are that put off by the concept of a drink limit... just do what all go festival goers do BEND THE RULES Smuggle, steal, sneak, cheat, and lie you way into the place with more booze.
square_eyes says...
I don't know about you guys but you can't buy more than 5 standard drinks in a day at a festival in Melbourne. Unless you want to spend 3/4 of the afternoon in a queue wider than it is long for over priced, minimal selection, sponsored drinks. Then they pinch your change with odd amounts left on drink cards. I have done the last couple of events sobre, believe it or not the music sounds just as good. And I can remember it!
aimeegladman says...
I would definitely not be going, That's a joke. Our festivals go for around 10 hours, that's one drink an hour... Maybe they want to encourage people to drink less alcohol and take more drugs as an alternative.
Cills says...
If you bring in a 5 drink limit, the drug smuggling and taking will rise. Hate to say it but its a fact. A lot of festivals will loose their crowd from this limit. Especially in OZ youngens where drinking is our culture.
bazman88 says...
If they bring that in, then im moving to europe.
BassJunkie says...
Man it will never work ppl will either not go to those festivals or they will just get even more loaded. Plus festivals like future music in sydney is held at the racecoarse and the money they get from drink sales is huge there is no way they are going to loose out on that profit and if it does happen they will be less likely to hold the events. Plus amerians dont no how to party anyway they start drinking at 21 wtf p*ssies
Bognashavin says...
We need to make sure you've not said anything naughty The above is just as bad too WTF?
Bognashavin says...
Nothing kills the vibe more than righteous wowser idiots being sober who expect everyone to stand still and politely clap. Seriously the stupidest idea ever. Get your owbn booze free festivals, but don't ruin ours. Fair enough some people can;t handle their booze, but why should everyone else be punished?
big willo says...
This is Australia, do you really think we, the people would let that happen at our festivals...
BassJunkie says...
Hey Bazman im with you ill fck off ova there as well. Plus the music is better and if we go to amsterdam half the sh*t is legal any way lol
Lozinger says...
Actually!! It's going to be REALLY interesting to see the drinks price list at festivals this year with the intro of the "alcopop tax". We could be up for $20 for 1 UDL??
Lozinger says...
Probably a good idea for those with no self control, wouldn't make me boycott a festival no way! The dance festival market usually doesn't get too many blind drunk losers anyway, I think you get my drift...
jess_conway88 says...
I agree that it'll push more people towards drugs, but it will also have a massive impact on the events' profit margin- how much do you reckon they'd make on alcohol sales and sponsorship? If a limit is imposed then it will be less viable to put concerts on, so there will be less. Let people be responsible for their own actions.
samandrobandjet says...
i dont think alcohol is the problem at most festivals.... if anything they need more bars to accomodate for the large crowds. and the bar tenders should know when someone needs to be cut off as that is their job
Lize says...
i'd prefer a limit on steriod use! stop all the posers beefing themselves up to show off their "fake" muscles instead on enjoying the music! Steriod use is the problem at Melbourne Festivals not alcohol abuse...
jgalellis says...
This is probably inevitable, however stupid. Like many have said it will just increase the number of drug takers at these events. Traditionally these festivals were held underground, however as it hits the mainstream it is getting a closer eye by those who look down upon drinking and drug taking and try to regulate it. Trying to regulate behaviour, organizers can limit what they can control - Alcohol. By doing this they are ignoring the drug issue which is causing the most problems (if not all). People drink all the time, and can handle the effects of it, but what happens if it is taken away - they will look for alternatives, and when they are given something else that they have not had before, who knows how their body will react to it?
Flight Commander says...
I hope the people who came up with this fucking stupid idea have their genitals shrivel up and fall off.
Beds says...
This is the gayest potential proposal ever for Aussie festivals.
GrEnNo says...
its also in sydney lize.........mixd with ice, not a good combo
deXXy_Disaster says...
Phwoar 5 drinks!? LOL that is insane. That just means people would be doing ALOT more drugs
lukedougherty says...
sounds like a good way to set up a mass overdose...
marisa jade says...
I"d just wait til near the end of the night and get them all in 5 mins.SCULL
shaggdoggz says...
I am against a drink limit. Im not a big drinker by any means but how expensive will tickets become to cover bar losses. also its a good tax system :-p
TroyShaun says...
Sober drivers are going to come in even more handy!
petebb22 says...
i went to that nysee festival and when i heard that rule it made me feel like i was in jail with a view of the statue of hell but with a few little tips to the bar girls 5 drinks turned into many more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uBKwr8mssQ
ichymochek says...
of course we will bend over and take it. Australian has become a remarkably subservient, anal retentive country. gone is the larrakin culture. oh well guess there are other, cheaper, ways to get wasted..
Lost Baggage says...
with the fucked way the bars are run at festivals in Aus .. you can haedly get 5 drinks anyway without spending the whole time queuing up at the bar .. so who cares .. festivals here suck anyway .. wont happen in Europe
broagz says...
speaking of drinks, festivals should have a point of purchase for drink tickets that is separate from the bars- a simple exchange of ticket-for-drink would reduce the monstrous waiting times in the bar queues
Master Mischief says...
It's a load of bollox! Just like the 'Alcopop' tax hike. And who call's pre-mixed drinks 'alcopops' anyway? Tree hugging term made up by the goverment. Stupid tax that has seen a massive increase in spirit sales. And more than likely recreational drug sales also. It was suggested that the goverment would make 7 billion off the tax hike over four years. The figure is now a mere 1.3 billion over five years. A failed goverment experiment that has driven people to harder drugs and alcohol. And this suggestion looks to do the same. Stupid idealist's that don't concider the full impact it has on society as a whole. People that come up with these idea's don't even go to fevestivals, go to church every week, blame everyone else for their problems, and are straight up lame arse c*ksticks who think that we live in their ideal world and think that we think same as they do...pfft...
bussyboy says...
Hmm, this might end up one of the most commented articles for a while.... 5 drinks at a long festival is a little light on - maybe 3/2hrs would be better. Considering many are already tanked before arriving, and people not drinking might be buying for others, that would do to keep peeps in a party mood, without getting too stupid. Oh, and none of that light shit that's been goin' on recently.
antlad says...
less drink = more pingers
bluepeople says...
its never going to happen so who cares really. if it comes then you dont go. go to the pub. all the artists will just do pub gigs. who cares man get over it guys. there more important things to worry about. to say your going to move to europe cause of this is the most pathetic thing ive heard in a while you fools. over a ban on alchol. dckhads
thaigarian says...
new this was coming.. doesnt the uk do this already? its just going to make everyone take more drugs and get way more wasted before they enter. 90% of festival goers arnt even there for the music they go there to get smashed/munted.. whats a wristband goin to do to stop them?
kebabdul says...
stupid. wont help nothing except the promoters with rsa
UntilMonday says...
If they do... ill bring in my own hip flask filled with straight barcardi rum... work out cheaper for me anyway. But I can't see them doin it... Events organizers make so much money ripping us off with ridiculously priced drinks!!!
crasherboi says...
IF this happens ill probably munch a 20 pack of pings and froth my way around all day PERIOD. YES IT IS POSSIBLE. there is no way this will work. it is a bloody outrage. i wont have it. SINKIN PISS.... AUSTRALIA SAYS YESSSSSS!