Do you smuggle drinks in?

[VimtoPassion]

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?

I would judge him for the totally inappropriate costume, not the booze!

I suppose it depends on the festival. The last one we went to was a camper van one and we were all either drinking out of plastic cups or water bottles and no one battered an eyelid.

The only rule was no glass at all so had to take a box of wine.

I've not been to the big festivals though so they must be more strict.

I was at Rockprest a few years ago and the security guys searched bags so thoroughly that they even confiscated a half eaten pack of Polo mints that the woman in front of me had in the bottom of her bag. Like that would have cut into their profits! It's not just about the cost of drinks and the bar queues, though they are the main reasons. I smuggle drinks in when I can, because it also feels like a little victory

Against who?

Yes, but there was no point having the discussion about cultural appropriation because he was clearly pissed!

Touché LOL!

The festivals I go to encourage you to bring a picnic and your own one/fizz, as well as there being food and drink stalls on site. Seems to work well for everyone.

Last concert I was at they made you empty chilly bottles as you went in. I did sit near a lady who smuggled in pouches of some form of drink in sandwiches. They looked like doorstep sandwiches.

I got caught at a gig with a metal hip flask, they don’t make a thing about it so it’s really not embarrassing at all she was just like “I’m sorry but you’ll need to pour that out”.

My best way to smuggle is a soft foldable bladder bottle. Wear high waisted cycling shorts and stuff it down the front. If you’re already a little chubby they don’t even question it’s not just your belly 😂 especially with an oversized Tee or dress over the top!

@Needmorelego you're not going to win the argument with this person because if you are ND like I suspect then you simply think differently. I cannot count the number of times people have said to me "why can't you just accept it/why do you HAVE to know?"
🤷‍♀️ thats just how my brain works. I want to know a logical reason why someone does something because I can't simply figure it out myself sadly. 70% of what people do is a mystery to me lol but because they take it for granted that everyone thinks "normally" they assume you're being a knob when you ask.

So while you're saying "I don't get it" and I'm reading it as literally "please tell me what happens, how does it feel because it doesnt feel special to me and i want to understand WHY".... other people read it as you being a "sanctimonious" AH pretending you're special because you're pretending not to understand.

Fun fun fun. I'm new to MN and couldn't find a private message function or I'd have just messaged you lol

A bloke at Trnsmt went to Glasgow Green before they put the festival fences up and buried a bottle of vodka near an identifiable tree 😂 my daughter watched him dig it up, he was so pleased with himself. Good on him!

I don’t go to big festivals, but I do run my own small festival. Drink prices are very reasonable and we ask people not to bring their own booze into the festival (on the campsite is fine). The festival bar is a massive, crucial, part of the financing of the festival and it really irritates me when people ignore our request and bring their own booze. Particularly when they leave the bottles or cans for me to clear up…
So, I know the prices at big festivals can be ridiculous, but please spare a thought for smaller events. :)

I wouldn't dream of it at a small festival. Someone up thread said they were smuggling booze into a beer festival, now that is definitely ridiculous.

As a matter of interest, how much are the drinks at your festival?

I think you are worrying too much. If they are caught the alcohol will be confiscated or they will be told to take it back to camp. I've never known anyone be kicked out of a festival for this.

Going to Camp Bestival this year- you are allowed to take your own drinks as long as there’s no glass 💪🏼💪🏼

DS told me peolem do this. I thought he was making it up 😆

Someone up thread said they were smuggling booze into a beer festival, now that is definitely ridiculous.

And rather pointless. I am volunteering at a beer festival soon, and all proceeds are going to the local hospice. I would take a very dim view of someone bringing their own beer.

Drink and drugs buried all over Glasgow Green 😂

Yes it does need looking at especially the food. I'm not bothered about alcohol but get hungry and I would still buy stuff

Ive worked festival security for around 20 years. Some festivals are stricter than others; some say no alcohol at all, some will limit the amount and some will say no glass, it really does depend. I personally take a pragmatic view and happy to turn a blind eye to what i can, because i try and take my own in when i go to a festival myself. Small little events i wont, but certainly the bigger events i do. No one will be refused entry for smuggling in alcohol, i have even worked events where people smuggling drugs in were not ejected - if it was a personal amount, the drugs were thrown in a secure bin for the police to collect and dispose of.
A lot of the bigger festivals charge stupid amounts for regular cans of drink when there is no need to, the smaller, independent festivals are often just about breaking even.

And yes, any alcohol confiscated is usually distributed among the staff after the event.

Haha! Please can we be friends?!