St. Patrick's celebrations

[Coke6pk]

Where is your data that says BluesFest and Oktoberfest contribute as many hospitalizations?

I can tell you for one, the BluesFest, which I have worked at several times, has had very few issues. The staff must be SmartServe certified. Not to say that it isn't without any issues, and we actually had an issue with one of the performers the one year. Any serious issues were usually related to the heat, not alcohol (though alcohol can be a factor, obviously), but in some cases, kids might have gotten heatstroke in a non-alcohol area (so not related to booze at all).

One of the big differences between something like an unsanctioned street party and an organized event is crowd control -- you have counters at the entrance to count people coming in and out, and you must limit the number for whatever the permit has determined is safe, could be 500, could be 1,000, depending on the size. No entry for individuals that are intoxicated.

I think the one year we had 3 alcohol related calls, including the performer. The year before that (the Rib and Beer Fest), we had a few extra calls, and it turned out that the one vendor (who I won't name) wasn't following SmartServe guidelines, and this happens when the vendor hires mostly 19-21 year old females looking for big tips with a 23 year-old male manager to oversee everything. They, this is, the vendor, were barred (pardon that lame pun) from  the ground the following year.  I recall that vendor, as after I was done working the event, they invited me over for 'free' beer. I only took one, seeing that I had to drive home, but found it usually suspect for them to be doing that, then realized when you have very young people running the show, they tend to throw way more caution into the wind. Though I really liked these kids, super friendly...

BluesFest and Oktoberfest also pay for (a majority) of the police presence.  Ezra pays nothing.

There is no easy answer, and absolutely NO answer that will make everyone happy.  The University and City will never organize.  Liability costs would be phenomenal, and students at this party are not interested in following the rules that would be laid out on a liquor licence. 

Coke