Britt Creates Alcohol Policy to Balance Tradition and Safety
Donna Briggs and Ken Trautman Field Questions at today's Press Conference
Britt and its Board of Directors announced today its plan to test a new alcohol policy on four select concerts. Effective this summer, the Board of Directors has voted to prohibit patrons from bringing in outside alcohol to four concerts: Primus (June 11), Bush (June 22), The Avett Brothers (August 24) and Slightly Stoopid (September 6).
Britt Executive Director Donna Briggs
Currently, Britt has a limited on-site liquor license through ORS 471.178, which allows the organization to both sell wine and beer, and to allow patrons to bring wine and beer on site.
“Britt’s policy of allowing patrons to bring in outside beer and wine is a cherished tradition,” said Board President Ken Trautman. “However, as we have expanded our programming to serve new audiences over the past several years, we have seen an increase in alcohol-related incidents at Britt. The Board decision was made in an effort to strike a compromise—keeping the tradition in place for the majority of our concerts, while making some changes to address patron and public safety.”
The four concerts that will prohibit outside alcohol were chosen based on recommendations by Britt’s security staff. In part, these decisions were made based on previous crowd control issues with audiences for these artists based on experiences at Britt and other venues. At this morning’s Press Conference, Trautman mentioned that Britt wants to expand the Britt concert offerings to a variety of audiences. One option was to simply not offer these concerts, but Britt decided a better option was to change the alcohol policy for these select concerts. Briggs and Trautman both stated that this policy makes Britt in-line with other venues across the country. Britt is unique in allowing alcohol into concerts, and to many of these concert-goers, this won’t be a surprise.
“We wanted to be proactive in addressing this issue,” said Trautman. “We want to avoid any future incidents, both to maintain patron and public safety, and to maintain the Britt Experience.”
Jeff Jett, Lieutenant/Regional Manager of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), says, “We all want the concert-goers to have a great time. But we want all of them to have a safe drive home as well. We share the Britt’s concerns for public safety and commend them for taking steps to ensure their patrons well-being.”
For all concerts, wine and beer will still be available for purchase on the Britt hill. No hard alcohol is allowed on the Britt hill. Keeping with tradition, picnics are welcome. Some new offerings this year will be a $4 beer and local Caldera beer. Seven wineries will also be selling a wide selection of wine.
“Restricting outside alcohol on these select concerts will help our security staff better manage the crowd and will help ensure a positive Britt Experience for everyone,” says Britt Executive Director Donna Briggs. Trautman emphasized, “We wanted to get the word out about these concerts up-front, with full transparency and early disclosure.”
Bill Geiger, owner of CYA Event Security says, “CYA provides Britt Festivals with risk management and supports Britt’s new alcohol policy.”
Britt’s limited liquor license also prohibits Britt patrons from taking any alcohol, sealed or unsealed, off the Britt grounds. For concerts not under the outside alcohol ban, noted above, Britt encourages patrons to only bring in an amount of alcohol they can safely consume while enjoying a concert. Britt asks patrons to drink responsibly.
Tickets for the 2012 season went on sale to Britt members beginning Thursday, April 12. General public sales begin Thursday, May 17.
Visit Brittfest.org for the season schedule and tickets.
Better safe than sorry? If concert goers are irresponsible, then the privilege will end for all of us. I just hate that a few misbehavers can ruin the fun for all. I think the Britt Board deliberated long and hard and based their decision on information from their security staff. I’m sure they have huge liabilities issues to consider and want to assure the lasting venue for all of us. There will be plenty of naysayers, I’m sure.
I think the Britt should have a “blanket policy” that is the same for all concerts and allow folks to bring in wine or beer for any show they pay to see.
Booo! Everyone should not have to pay for the irresponsibility of a few! Yet another example of our freedoms being taken away in exchange for “safety”…..Not being able to bring my own alcohol makes me want to not go to those concerts more than the fear of someone drinking too much and acting like an idiot.
Why not put these type of concerts at the ampitheater for managing this issue?
I’m sorry but this is lame. The only consolation for me is that this rule doesn’t apply to any of the concerts that I plan to attend this year. It is a “cherished tradition” to be able to walk up Britt Hill with my picnic basket and bottle of wine, to be able to sit on the grass with a real wine glass and sip that wine while I listen to great music. I have witnessed the concession stand at Britt expanding a bit more every year and many people choose to patronize the stand but I think that takes away from the magic of the total Britt experience. I’d rather bring my own.
Now it seems like they are using safety concerns as an excuse to force people to buy wine from their concession stands. They’d definitely make more money if we all did that but in this economy, I can scarcely afford to buy tickets to any concert let alone pay for wine by the plastic glass.
I also think that the choice of concerts to test out their new policy is a bit elitist. Primus, Bush, The Avett Brothers and Slightly Stoopid. All concerts where it is unlikely that any of their big ticket donors will be attending. They claim that these concerts were chosen based on the recommendation of the security staff but I get the feeling that there is more going on here than just safety.