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Original poster

Do you smuggle drinks in?

146 replies

VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 16:14

I'm not a risk taker and I haven't had many adventures.

I went to a couple of festivals in the 90s and am about to go to my 3rd!

The friends I'm going with are seasoned pros and see smuggling their vodka in as all part of the fun. It's not really about the money for them, but the creativity, challenge and "winning" against the people who charge such rip off prices at these events.

I can see their POV, but equally would be mortified to get caught. I also can manage perfectly well on a couple of expensive beers without necking illicit vodka. What happens if they/we get caught? Is there a possibility that they'll be denied entry and I'll end up there on my own?!

The friends are people who have been really good to me since a series of tragic events. I'm grateful for their friendship and support but sometimes we are very different. This is never a problem though, they know that and accept it. They'd have no issue if I decide not to "play".

So, would you and if so what are your best creative ideas?

They have lots of props on Amazon, an umberella which will hold drink and bags with hidden compartments, for example, but surely the organisers are wise to those?

OP posts:
woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:04

They should provide water

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 09/08/2023 17:05

Sneaking in alcohol makes everything more fun! As well as that, it’s far cheaper and a bonding experience and you can guarantee you get to drink what you want!

TinyRebel · 09/08/2023 17:05

Several hip flasks of JD strategically hidden about my person bra.

berksandbeyond · 09/08/2023 17:05

I wouldn’t, I think it’s tacky personally, but then I am not a big drinker and am happy to just pay the inflated prices

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:06

I hate being ripped off.

Why has it become like this

continentallentil · 09/08/2023 17:09

You are overthinking this a bit.

Especially as ML women you’ll get a very quick check. Just stick it in a sunscreen bottle or some pouches. The worst that will happen is they’ll take it off you (they won’t notice it though).

I dunno about part of the fun - it’s just that they are SO expensive

continentallentil · 09/08/2023 17:11

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:04

They should provide water

They all have water station taps next to the loos I think. You bring a water bottle

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:12

Yes that's what I meant, I was affirming it😀

Original poster
VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 17:12

continentallentil · 09/08/2023 17:09

You are overthinking this a bit.

Especially as ML women you’ll get a very quick check. Just stick it in a sunscreen bottle or some pouches. The worst that will happen is they’ll take it off you (they won’t notice it though).

I dunno about part of the fun - it’s just that they are SO expensive

Everyone there will be middle aged and we're not all women.

Friends have been before and have always been searched, but have drink sewn into the lining of their hat or skirt, for example.

TBH I'm more bothered by not having easy access to water. I never go anywhere without water!

OP posts:
mast0650 · 09/08/2023 17:14

Ha! I'd have probably said no last week. But we just went to Wilderness. We took well within the allowed amount wine into the campsite, no smuggling required. Slightly dozily we hadn't realised that when it said "bottles" of wine, that didn't mean you could take glass bottles. We "declared" them honestly and then decanted some cheap wine into a large empty water bottle and went to pick up the better stuff and return to car later.

Anyway, having already opened the wine and not having had the chance to drink it at the campsite (and having seen the price of drinks at the arena) we decided just to carry the plastic bottle and cups in with us in a small rucksack. We knew there was a chance it would be taken off us but didn't really care. In fact they didn't check.

Then on the last day we ended up with cans of beer that teenage child had left. Couldn't be bothered to carry them back to the car, so again thought we might as well risk taking a few in with us in rucksacks. Again no-one checked. They were doing some checking but at 50+ I don't think we look like prime suspects!

It wasn't really planned in advance, but we didn't want to carry the stuff back with us so thought we might as well chance it. I'd have just played innocent if we got caught. It wouldn't have been a big deal. I'm quite sure we wouldn't have been banned!! Plenty of people had stuff confiscated but there were no further implications.

Don't know about other festivals though.

BrandonFlowersTurkeyTeeth · 09/08/2023 17:16

Refillable soft pouches filled with vodka, one in each bra cup. Walk in with massive knockers. Never been stopped and had it confiscated, they can't search your underwear anyway! And if you did get found, they only confiscate it.

ILoveCreamCrackersMe · 09/08/2023 17:16

I don't think you're festival ready 😀

A few bottles won't make you Escobar!

Needmorelego · 09/08/2023 17:17

@ExplodingCarrots could you have gone with not having any alcohol at all? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about whether the prices are a rip off or not 🤔

mast0650 · 09/08/2023 17:17

At Wilderness there was no problem taking water and food in with you.

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:18

It's the food as well though

It is also expensive

Blancher · 09/08/2023 17:20

Breast milk bags are really good for smuggling spirits cos they stay pretty flat. Just line them up like a bomb of float under a pair of big knickers!

UltramarineViolet · 09/08/2023 17:24

If you are camping/glamping then I would absolutely smuggle in as much booze & food as possible as relatively easy to hide it amongst your clothes & camping equipment

If it's just a single day event where you will be walking in on foot with a bag that will be searched then I probably wouldn't risk it

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:26

UltramarineViolet · 09/08/2023 17:24

If you are camping/glamping then I would absolutely smuggle in as much booze & food as possible as relatively easy to hide it amongst your clothes & camping equipment

If it's just a single day event where you will be walking in on foot with a bag that will be searched then I probably wouldn't risk it

So if you are camping they still won't allow food in?

GrannieD · 09/08/2023 17:26

Pouches are the way forward. You can hide them in bras, hotpants, wellies and leg warmers......I'm a pro !!

RampantIvy · 09/08/2023 17:27

littleripper · 09/08/2023 16:21

I don't really understand it, alcohol isn't that expensive unless you need a skinful. DM was invited on a cruise and snuggled in wine but thats because it was poor quality to buy and she's a snob 😂😂😂😂😂

Prices for drinks at Slamdunk this year were outrageous. They had a very strict no food or drinks to be brought in policy, not even water. The water they had on tap tasted muddy, and a bottle of inexpensive wine was £29!

I don't blame people for not wanting to be ripped off.

Original poster
VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 17:29

Blancher · 09/08/2023 17:20

Breast milk bags are really good for smuggling spirits cos they stay pretty flat. Just line them up like a bomb of float under a pair of big knickers!

I just Googled breast milk bags (my Dc are long adult, I'm not sure we had such things). Why are they breast shaped? Grin

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 09/08/2023 17:37

For camping festivals, yes. We just decant wine and spirits into thermos flasks and then roll them into our packed up tent. Apart from sky high prices, the camp grounds are usually an age away from the food stalls and bars and if you just want to sit outside your tents in the sun with your friends for the afternoon you don’t want to walk a mile each way every time you want a beer or a cocktail.

Perfectly happy to be thought of as childish. One of the benefits of choosing not to have children of your own is that you get to remain childish for as long as you please!

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/08/2023 17:41

VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 17:12

Everyone there will be middle aged and we're not all women.

Friends have been before and have always been searched, but have drink sewn into the lining of their hat or skirt, for example.

TBH I'm more bothered by not having easy access to water. I never go anywhere without water!

Show quote history

All the festivals I’ve been to have had drinking water points in the campgrounds and festival grounds. The Welfare tent will also always have drinking water that they’re more than happy to give you. Just don’t bring glass containers.

Theimpossiblegirl · 09/08/2023 17:42

Needmorelego · 09/08/2023 17:17

@ExplodingCarrots could you have gone with not having any alcohol at all? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about whether the prices are a rip off or not 🤔

Honestly, the attitude towards having a few drinks on this site is so sanctimonious sometimes. Of course they could have managed without, but people are allowed to drink alcohol and enjoy it.

Whichwhatnow · 09/08/2023 17:43

I don't really drink any more but yeah, always smuggled spirits in. I don't like beer or wine, and spirits at festivals are usually mega expensive and also nasty cheapo stuff. Plus the QUEUES!

Tbh for a weekend festival I always just put a bottle in my rucksack/tent bag, wrapped up in a sleeping bag or similar... I've never been to a festival where they properly search all the rucksacks or tent bags, it's usually just a cursory glance into your handbag or whatever. No need for all these fake brollies etc!

Having said that I think the best smuggling I've seen was my mate who taped three bottles of smirnoff around her waist, with a pillow over the top all taped into place to create a 'baby bump'. She was so convincing as an exhausted pregnant woman (rather than mildly hungover booze smuggler) that we were ushered through the fast track queue by the stewards... 😅

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