Expect Booze Restrictions in 2013 at SC?

[WLW]

This is from the KPCC 89.3 Website

Get ready, here comes Big Brother



A 17-year old girl told police she was inside a portable bathroom on the festival grounds Friday when 3 men forced their way inside and assaulted her. Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron says the men fled before they could be identified. Detectives are counting on tips from the public.

“It’s a well attended event. So hopefully they’ll know this incident occurred and maybe they heard or saw something suspicious they’ll come forth and notify the police department,” says Guitron.

Indio police made nearly 60 arrests during Friday’s opening night. About 120 more people were arrested Saturday and Sunday. Guitron says the majority had something to do with booze.

Unlike the Coachella Music Festival, also held at the Empire polo fields over the two prior weekends, alcohol may be consumed anywhere at Stagecoach. At Coachella, it’s relegated to designated 21-and-over only areas. Coachella draws bigger daily crowds yet has significantly fewer alcohol-related arrests than its country cousin.

Guitron says it may be time to ask festival organizer Goldenvoice to reign in Stagecoach’s drinking policy.

“Goldenvoice’s partnership with us, and we’ve been doing this for over a decade, has been very open,” says Guitron.

“We always look to what we plan eight, nine months in advance to see hey, did it work? Where can we adjust? So we’ll evaluate this year and actually look at those areas as far as the alcohol consumption permitted areas that in the venue.”

Aside from the arrests, Stagecoach had a fairly smooth ride, with few major traffic tie-ups or heat-related illnesses reported. About 50,000 people attended each day of the 3-day country music extravaganza.

[Cooter]

it really is crazy how different the vibes of the crowd are between the two fests, alcohol consumption being the main contributor.

alcohol makes people angry.

vs.

weed, shrooms, acid, molly, ecstasy, etc. make people happy.

[Rose]

I saw plenty of drunk people at Stagecoach and they were NOT assaulting 17 year old girls in a restroom.

If stagecoach is going to ban or restrict something it should be cigarette smoking.

[caligirlUCR]

I highly doubt that restricting where in the festival you can drink will do anything to help with the number of alcoghol related arrests. People who want to drink - will find a way. They will sneak it in or go to those designated areas - But the people who are only casually drinking will probably not go to the designated areas and thus their profts will go wayyyy down. I am more curious what the arrests "relating to alcohol" actually break down to mean. Was it DUI's? Drunk in public?

[WLW]

...an interestings fact, if you all remember, four years ago you were not allowed to drink in the camps. I'm in hopes that they do not try to re-instate that rule. I believe that most of the problems "started there", so to speak.

People will still drink, but not out in the open link the last three years. I did notice a lot of excesses this year, more than in the past. Time will tell.

[gaypalmsprings]

I saw a lot of people with flasks. Perhaps they don't search Stagecoach attendees as thoroughly as Coachella. If they did away with lawn chairs and made everyone stand or use blankets, it would cut down on people sneaking in alcohol. What they lose from selling beer, they could gain from selling more tickets.

[lakid07]

How did 3 dudes fit in a porta potty with a girl??????? I could barley turn around in the thing!

[frenchie]

I heard that the search coming from the general entrance and camp grounds were much more lax than the ADA entrance. Some people walked right in with flasks, bicycles, coolers, etc. which were all contraband. I really hope they don't do away with chairs and blankets because that's not the type fo event I'm looking for. I want a seat, even if it's a lawnchair a mile away. It will be interesting to see how the event evolves over the years.

[Raquellita]

How did 3 dudes fit in a porta potty with a girl??????? I could barley turn around in the thing!

OMG, you took the words right out of my keyboard! Not trying to be funny, because this is a terrible thing that happened, but it's true that they are so small.

[sandholic]

I heard that the attack happened in one of the handicap accessible porta pottys.

[Raquellita]

I heard that the attack happened in one of the handicap accessible porta pottys.

Ahhh Hope she wasn't really handicapped, that would be even worse. Poor thing.

[xuclarockerx]

I really hope they don't do away with chairs and blankets because that's not the type fo event I'm looking for. I want a seat, even if it's a lawnchair a mile away.

I don't think they will do away with the chairs & blankets, too many people would be upset by that. The beer-anywhere policy inside the venue is also very popular with the Stagecoach demographic but I think there is a real possibility that may be altered at least somewhat for next year. There were almost 180 arrests this year, significantly more than the previous two weekends where beer drinking is restricted to designated areas.

If they implemented designated drinking areas at Stagecoach I'd imagine there would be much protest, but ultimately I don't think it would be enough to stop everyone from going. I hope not, anyway.

[frenchie]

I might get shunned for this, but I wouldn't mind having a specific drinking area for Stagecoach. Rather than all throughout the grounds... There was much less of a problem this year with random drunk strangers stumbling all over your stuff while trying to find their way back to their blanket in the middle of the crowd. The standing room only area really helped prevent that, I think.

[KevinB]

I might get shunned for this, but I wouldn't mind having a specific drinking area for Stagecoach. Rather than all throughout the grounds... There was much less of a problem this year with random drunk strangers stumbling all over your stuff while trying to find their way back to their blanket in the middle of the crowd. The standing room only area really helped prevent that, I think.

Yeah, I really enjoyed not having to chose between squeezing in next to someone who had been camped out all day and standing in the back. Us drunks in the front held each other up!

[Reed]

I don't think they will do away with the chairs & blankets, too many people would be upset by that. The beer-anywhere policy inside the venue is also very popular with the Stagecoach demographic but I think there is a real possibility that may be altered at least somewhat for next year. There were almost 180 arrests this year, significantly more than the previous two weekends where beer drinking is restricted to designated areas.

If they implemented designated drinking areas at Stagecoach I'd imagine there would be much protest, but ultimately I don't think it would be enough to stop everyone from going. I hope not, anyway.

Where did you get the numbers of arrest at?

[WLW]

Where did you get the numbers of arrest at?

Read the first post.

[enother]

I don't think they will do away with the chairs & blankets, too many people would be upset by that. The beer-anywhere policy inside the venue is also very popular with the Stagecoach demographic but I think there is a real possibility that may be altered at least somewhat for next year. There were almost 180 arrests this year, significantly more than the previous two weekends where beer drinking is restricted to designated areas.

If they implemented designated drinking areas at Stagecoach I'd imagine there would be much protest, but ultimately I don't think it would be enough to stop everyone from going. I hope not, anyway.

Where did you get the numbers of arrest at?

[Raquellita]

Read the first post.

Yeah, what he said!

[Cooter]

Where did you get the numbers of arrest at?

it was mentioned in the local paper out there.

[sandholic]

This is from the KPCC 89.3 Website
Indio police made nearly 60 arrests during Friday’s opening night. About 120 more people were arrested Saturday and Sunday. Guitron says the majority had something to do with booze.

Arrest info from first post.