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AADD Moderators: Tronica
NEWS : 18.01.10 - Police reject claims of Big Day 'ambush'
- Thread starter kingpin007
- Start date
kingpin007
Bluelighter
Light beer makes light work for Big Day Out cops
Lily Allen performs on stage.
CHRISTINE KELLETT
January 18, 2010 - 11:01AM
Police have credited the sale of mid and light-strength alcohol at the Big Day Out yesterday with a low arrest rate at the music festival.
A crowd of 55,000 people crammed Parklands, where heavy beer was off the menu for the first time in the event's history.
Of the 126 people arrested - down on last year's figures - just 21 were nabbed for public drunkenness.
Seventy-five people were charged with drug offences after being caught by sniffer dogs in the Parklands car park. None made their way inside.
Gold Coast Superintendent Jim Keogh said a handful of others were nabbed for obstructing police, but overall, the behaviour of revellers was good.
"There was no aggression there was no violence," he said.
"The temperatures were quite demanding; it would have been easy for tempers to frayed in the heat.
"I think a lot of this behaviour is on the back of mid and light strength alcohol being served at the event for the first time this year."
Superintendent Keogh said negative public perceptions of the event were sometimes exaggerated.
"Look, 75 drug arrests with 55,000 - you could hardly say it is a drug fest.
"We send out plenty of warnings in the lead up to this event [saying] `please don't brings drugs to the concert' and still 75 people chose to turn up with drugs and of course were processed by police and turned away."
"There were two seizures there in the 40s, so certainly that wouldn't have been for self consumption."
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/ent...-work-for-big-day-out-cops-20100118-mfe7.html
kingpin007
Bluelighter
light beer WTF ??
not only charge you $7 for a plastic cup of beer ... now its light strength ...
I guess that means no more spirits ..... now that would keep me away permanently.. lol
This means more and more people will pop pills as drinking alcohol would be sending everyone broke before the days even started ..
not only charge you $7 for a plastic cup of beer ... now its light strength ...
I guess that means no more spirits ..... now that would keep me away permanently.. lol
This means more and more people will pop pills as drinking alcohol would be sending everyone broke before the days even started ..
Azron
Bluelighter
Will this be the same in Melbourne?? (And I guess at all of them)
hyroller
Bluelighter
^^^^ My guess would be yes
I avoid buying drinks at events. Just not worth the $$ and lining up and all the rest....
Good to hear they didn't have much trouble. But I wouldn't think BDO crowds would be as inclined towards that sort of thing compared with certain other kinds of events, anyway.
I avoid buying drinks at events. Just not worth the $$ and lining up and all the rest....
Good to hear they didn't have much trouble. But I wouldn't think BDO crowds would be as inclined towards that sort of thing compared with certain other kinds of events, anyway.
I wonder what percentage of people actually consume drugs at this festival? I'm assuming it would be lower than usual considering it isn't an 18+ event but still catching 75 out of the possible 1000s is a horrible figure. I have yet to hear reports on any drug related health problems (ODing etc.) so far so what was the point of that whole operation? Australia is breeding a state whereby people hate the police more than ever.
bit_pattern
Ex-Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2008
- Messages
- 8,127
I think a mid-strength rule could be good (not light, obviously, and also with a corresponding price drop), I find that mid-strength can be pretty good for sucking back all day without getting too pissed (maybe I'm just getting old lol)
no went yesterday and plenty of spirits still on offer ... in fact I was drinking CC's and cola or dry all day ... single shots only though ... still spirits were there ... and I must say there was plenty of happy people inside the event ... my guess is they didn't stop all of the drugs from getting in .... an educated guess ...
lil angel15
Bluelight Crew
I'm pretty sure it was QLD State legislation that too effect this year. It's been talked about previously, however, this was the first year its been put into effect.
It will be interesting to see if other States follow in the footsteps if this is in fact the case.![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
It will be interesting to see if other States follow in the footsteps if this is in fact the case.
static_mind
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,379
People like me use drugs and drink alot. These recent laws had me considering useing GHB in stead of alcohol but my better judgment has the better of me.
Even when full strength beer was around I never found fighting was a great problem at festivals. It's were fewer people are on drugs that we see fights. Look around any city at night and watch people fight. Driving to the beach on sat morning at dawn I almost hit a drunk who while watching me coming continued to walk into the street despite my green light. I almost ran him over and my efforts to continue around the block and try again were fruitless as he had moved on.
Where there is Ecstasy there is peace on Earth. These drug dog handlers iv no respect for. The handlers in Perth I can forgive because the death of that girl set precendent and until then it was only a prediction that someone would die. Now its known that these dogs cause a dangerous increase in drug use that can result in death and the police ignore their duty of care and continue on risking peoples lives for publicity (where there are dogs at festivals, there are cameras). The next death I hope hang's heavy over the drug dog handlers and they think about it and can't sleep.
Even when full strength beer was around I never found fighting was a great problem at festivals. It's were fewer people are on drugs that we see fights. Look around any city at night and watch people fight. Driving to the beach on sat morning at dawn I almost hit a drunk who while watching me coming continued to walk into the street despite my green light. I almost ran him over and my efforts to continue around the block and try again were fruitless as he had moved on.
Where there is Ecstasy there is peace on Earth. These drug dog handlers iv no respect for. The handlers in Perth I can forgive because the death of that girl set precendent and until then it was only a prediction that someone would die. Now its known that these dogs cause a dangerous increase in drug use that can result in death and the police ignore their duty of care and continue on risking peoples lives for publicity (where there are dogs at festivals, there are cameras). The next death I hope hang's heavy over the drug dog handlers and they think about it and can't sleep.
You speak as though that's the first time someone has died from ecstasy (you may be referring to first BDO drug-related death, I wouldn't know figures on that) and that in your opinion validates the police doing there job (somewhat) - fair enough. But why only in Perth? I'm pretty sure people have died from taking drugs in other cities, so precedents have been set there too, just not at BDO specifically.
rm2x
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,863
I'm pretty sure it was QLD State legislation that too effect this year. It's been talked about previously, however, this was the first year its been put into effect.
It will be interesting to see if other States follow in the footsteps if this is in fact the case.
last years soundwave in Brisbane only had mid and lights, also the canned spirits were mids
Jakeperson
Bluelighter
Very interesting, as I was planning on drinking at BDO.
Guess I'll just spend more money on drugs instead. (this is pointed at you Police and Media).
And you won't find them where I am putting them.
Good to see that there were no incidents and every one enjoyed a safe BDO!
Guess I'll just spend more money on drugs instead. (this is pointed at you Police and Media).
And you won't find them where I am putting them.
Good to see that there were no incidents and every one enjoyed a safe BDO!
Verybuffed
Bluelighter
Power to the pluggers!
Sustanon
Bluelighter
Fuck drinking at a place where it goes off! Its like goin to the brothel for a hug haha
Oldrolla
Bluelighter
PMSL.... love the analogy Sustanon.
Can remember going to the first BDO in "93 (i think). You were luck if you saw just one coppa all day. Aaaaaah those were the days
phase_dancer
Bluelight Crew
It was a very hot day; 46*C in the pit. Alcohol related interventions were high early in the day. MDMA and other illicits were certainly about, as were various legal highs. The light drinks rule did seem to have a positive impact on the number of related interventions, particularly after dark, and for our group, the number requiring one on one care was less than last year.
From team leader reports, police and security were not as heavy handed as reported for some previous years, and in every case I witnessed, they appeared to be eager to help intoxicated persons rather than kick them out first time around. Also interesting to note that organisers had some print outs available on sniffer dogs and your rights.
I'll know more when I've had a chance to collect and review reports in detail, so if anything else emerges I'll update. Thanks to the BLer who was an integral part of our 58 strong team. You forgot to pick up your Spanish cucumber
From team leader reports, police and security were not as heavy handed as reported for some previous years, and in every case I witnessed, they appeared to be eager to help intoxicated persons rather than kick them out first time around. Also interesting to note that organisers had some print outs available on sniffer dogs and your rights.
I'll know more when I've had a chance to collect and review reports in detail, so if anything else emerges I'll update. Thanks to the BLer who was an integral part of our 58 strong team. You forgot to pick up your Spanish cucumber
lil angel15
Bluelight Crew
Phase would have a better understanding of this situation, however, I believe festival organisers were encouraged to only sell lights/mids last year in preparation for the legislation to be enacted, whereas this year it became mandatory.
Phase?
phase_dancer
Bluelight Crew
That's what I understand from sitting in on conversations with promoters and liquor licensing last year. There may be specific requirements for certain events, areas etc, and crowd density issues, and even program material might also be taken into account and which could effect what is sold and how much can be purchased at once. I'd imagine under 18 events would be tougher.