Photo Credit: Lauren Burns (made with Adobe)
Unfortunately, seeing someone collapse in a concert or festival crowd has never been unusual. However, since the return of live events in 2021, the age-old scenario, perhaps due to the time away and changing audiences, has worsened post-lockdown.
Demand following the pandemic has led to bigger, younger and more inexperienced crowds in 2022. I believe there is a parallel between increased health risks at concerts and larger audiences, with many people attending for the first time.
So, with fainting and dehydration rising, why are organisers against attendees bringing water with them? Why are they ignoring a partial antidote that could work towards lowering these incidents?
Hydration is always important, but it is vital in environments of excessive heat and exertion like festivals. Drinking water should be allowed and accessible for safety reasons, if anything. It is, after all, a fundamental human right.
Like many venues, in their terms of entry, the 02 Arena state that “food and drink cannot be brought into the venue”. Whilst this stance is understandable as companies seek control over what is brought into their spaces, the necessity of water at events should not be underestimated. Unlike purchasing other refreshments (like alcohol, for instance), water is, as mentioned, a right. People should be able to bring it into events, especially when prices inside are so high.
Supplying or allowing water would lower the general health risks frequently attached to live events. For organisers, this would be a positive starting point to improve safety at events of every kind. With various issues swirling around the music and live events industries, from financial strain to the mental health of artists, providing or allowing water would be one less thing for those in the business to worry about.
Essentially, if the guidance for attending an event safely is to stay hydrated, then shouldn’t water be on offer?
by Lauren Burns
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