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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:
gogomoto · 09/08/2023 17:44

I have done in the past but now I value my drinks at the correct temperature rather than quantity!

MollyRover · 09/08/2023 17:44

Always do this. Events are becoming more and more expensive, completely rip off patrons and try and sell it as environmentally friendly to make you buy a keep cup for your overpriced swill. It used to be the case that they would sell you a 250ml bottle of water, but then take the cap so you couldn't even refill it.

There are loads of tools available online, my personal favorite is a nice tote bag with a 3l thermal pouch inside and a hidden tap to the outside. Looks like a normal shoulder bag but keeps your favourite tipple hidden and cold. My friends and I all have them now, so we can share the load Wink

Original poster
VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 17:46

gogomoto · 09/08/2023 17:44

I have done in the past but now I value my drinks at the correct temperature rather than quantity!

You're not going to get that at a festival even if you buy them there?

OP posts:
MollyRover · 09/08/2023 17:46

@Theimpossiblegirl so true. Imagine having a couple of drinks at a festival? Shocking.

gogomoto · 09/08/2023 17:47

The place that did annoy me was Hyde park, you can't even take water in test there is no where near enough concessions for the number of guests - 70,000 hungry thirsty people! They did have water refill stations but again not enough.

No issues with paying I do object to all queues being 30 mins plus

gogomoto · 09/08/2023 17:49

@VimtoPassion

You would be wrong ... excellent beer at the last one I went too... I can report back Saturday as I'm off to another first thing tomorrow, last year had very good beers and cider all at correct temperature

Upwiththelark76 · 09/08/2023 17:52

A pouch smuggled under your boobs! works every time ! obviously need to be busty to carry it off !

DyslexicPoster · 09/08/2023 17:55

It's part of the fun for me. But also if drinks are £7+ I can save a fair bit even if I only have few drinks.

I have lots of trusted methods, never get caught. If you do they just throw it away. No harm done. I'm very much a rules person and tbh it pisses me off that I'm so rule fixated. Much easier once your over 40. No one suspects me and I have even got alcohol past some very high security events. They are looking for drugs and explosives, not someone with relatively small amounts of alcohol.

If you don't want it confiscated I did see a boy who looked about 20 down and entire bottle of wine in one go at 10 am at a security check. I don't think he needed to buy much after that!

Original poster
VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 17:55

I'm thin and flat chested, I'm thinking most things under my clothes will show.

I should have sized up on the costume Grin

OP posts:
Lakeyloo · 09/08/2023 17:55

woodhill · 09/08/2023 17:26

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

Show quote history

No. You can take food/alcohol to your camp site but there are normally check points between the camp sites and the actual festival site.

Needmorelego · 09/08/2023 17:59

@Theimpossiblegirl actually I don’t really care whether people drink alcohol to be honest. Their choice. Whatever!
But…. I just don’t understand alcohol. To me it doesn’t taste very nice and makes me feel weird. I don’t get the appeal. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe my body is reacting differently. How does it make people have a “better” time at something? What does it actually make people feel like? The whole “glass of wine after the kids are asleep” thing. I simply don’t get it. How does it actually make a person feel “better”?

Globules · 09/08/2023 18:02

The day festival I went to last month made us empty sealed water bottles.

My darling friend told me once inside that she had several spirit miniatures in her very large bra.

I shared this story with a colleague in the week following. She told me that she de boxes cartons of wine and straps them around her body.

They search your bags but they can't search you.

FoodieToo · 09/08/2023 18:15

MollyRover · 09/08/2023 17:44

Always do this. Events are becoming more and more expensive, completely rip off patrons and try and sell it as environmentally friendly to make you buy a keep cup for your overpriced swill. It used to be the case that they would sell you a 250ml bottle of water, but then take the cap so you couldn't even refill it.

There are loads of tools available online, my personal favorite is a nice tote bag with a 3l thermal pouch inside and a hidden tap to the outside. Looks like a normal shoulder bag but keeps your favourite tipple hidden and cold. My friends and I all have them now, so we can share the load Wink

Could you post a link to this bag please?

Datdamndamp · 09/08/2023 18:18

DeeplyMovingExperience · 09/08/2023 16:32

Wine boxes with the box removed. Shove the foil bags into full-body underwear. Hey presto, massive drinkable tits.

I think I love you 😁

Original poster
VimtoPassion · 09/08/2023 18:19

MollyRover · 09/08/2023 17:44

Always do this. Events are becoming more and more expensive, completely rip off patrons and try and sell it as environmentally friendly to make you buy a keep cup for your overpriced swill. It used to be the case that they would sell you a 250ml bottle of water, but then take the cap so you couldn't even refill it.

There are loads of tools available online, my personal favorite is a nice tote bag with a 3l thermal pouch inside and a hidden tap to the outside. Looks like a normal shoulder bag but keeps your favourite tipple hidden and cold. My friends and I all have them now, so we can share the load Wink

I've seen one, about £30 on Amazon (so kind of defeats the object?). But I have two concerns. 1. won't the festival people know these exist and recognise it? 2 won't 3 litres of liquid in a bag otherwise filled with an empty water bottle and a light jacket be obviously heavy?

OP posts:
Ohyousillydivvy · 09/08/2023 18:40

We went to a work do at a football club hospitality box & the wine prices were shocking😮😮. £53 for a bottle of prosecco that you could buy in Waitrose for £15! Bloody daylight robbery! They charged £4 for a can of coke!

MollyRover · 09/08/2023 18:51

@VimtoPassion you're right, it's 1.5l. Plenty!!

@FoodieToo you can get them on Amazon, mine was a gift so I can't link, sorry!

DarkSpark · 09/08/2023 18:54

Catheter bag strapped to the leg, handy little drainage valve for pouring. Can neither confirm not deny that I did this as a student nurse in my 20's. It worked though.

Mojoj · 09/08/2023 18:58

Am loving all these ideas!!

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 09/08/2023 19:09

The festival staff don’t actually give a shit what you bring in, they pretty much just go through the motions and count down the hours until they can join in.

bonzaitree · 09/08/2023 19:26

Get a box of wine. Remove the bag from the box. Put bag of wine down some spanks.

Boom. Warm bag rose all weekend.

you’re welcome.

bellsbuss · 09/08/2023 19:33

I do but only because I don't don't want to queue for ages to get a drink

WetBandits · 09/08/2023 19:38

Haha, I remember doing this when I was 17 or 18, going to my first camping festival! I rolled a bottle of vodka up in my sleeping bag.

Serenity45 · 09/08/2023 20:45

I'm a smuggler, usually small bottles/pouches about my person (I'm quite chubby and will wear a loose long top or jacket, depending on the weather. Have been to festivals where staff were opening and sniffing water and soft drink bottles (these were allowed at the time).

Friends and I will often take a few mini wines into the theatre. They need to be in pockets, as bags are usually searched. Or if wearing boots you can sometimes get a bottle down each leg Grin

lastminutewednesday · 09/08/2023 21:09

Amaretto and coke looks and smells exactly like Dr Pepper. I've not been averse to a little festival mix in the past tbh. At £8 a pint I actually think it's fair enough
.