We live in Ireland (south) DS wants to go to the Emerge Music Festival in Belfast in August. He will be 17.5 at that stage, so yes I know almost an adult! But me & DH are just anxious about it. I know that it's a rave festival so not like Glastonbury or Electric Picnic and we're really worried about drugs and possible trouble. He'd be going with a group of lads all around the same age (some will already be 18) but none of them have been to this before so they don't know the setup, they don't know the city and don't know anyone else there. We don't either so we can't advise on where to stay and how to get around etc. And I know the troubles are thankfully over in N. Ireland but I wonder if there is still a risk and they might end up in the 'wrong' area or annoy 'the wrong' people? He's not been in any trouble before but he is a bit of a messer/class clown. As we're in ROI the school system is different here he will be just about to go into his last year of secondary school and here we attend the same school for all of second-level so no 6th form colleges etc. I think probably compared to some boys of his age in UK he might be a bit more naive/immature?
So. Are we being over protective? Should we just let him go and deal with any issues if they arise? Or do we tell him no, not till he's 18 and then he can decide himself? (he's the eldest of 2 so we're learning, go easy on us!!)