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Managing Smoking at Music Festivals.

Andy Robertson

Although the numbers of adult smokers has fallen significantly over the last 20 years the number of festival-goers who smoke is still unusually high. The issue of smoking can be quite divisive so organisers need to find the right balance between restrictions and provision of facilities for those who wish to indulge. 


Most European and North American countries have strict rules and regulations regarding smoking in public and venue owners and event organisers must ensure that they comply with these. For Asia, Africa and South American the regulations regarding smoking are more relaxed or simply not enforced. There are good reasons governments want to restrict smoking in public, they want to encourage people to quit for health reasons but the primary reason is to prevent the presence of second-hand smoke that can affect people working in entertainment venues. Data suggests that about 14% of adults in the UK are regular smokers, conversely *data from 2017 suggests that 37% of festival-goers smoke. What are the key considerations for festival organisers in managing this significantly higher number of festival-goers that smoke.

Rules and Regulations. 
The UK has had a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and places of work (with some exemptions) since 1 July 2007. The key principles are:  

  • Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces and places of work.
  • There is a legal duty for you to display a legible no-smoking sign where it can be seen by customers and staff.
  • There is a legal duty on any person who owns or manages smoke-free premises to ensure that guests, visitors and staff do not smoke on the premises. 

The key considerations for music festival operators is the areas of the festival site that may be considered as being substantially enclosed and may include awnings and enclosed tent stages and bars. There are no real restrictions to smoking outside and vaping is still technically allowed indoors.

Music Festival Policies.
Almost all music festival organisers will apply the no smoking rules for any part of the site that is considered as an enclosed space. Security personnel will enforce these rules with persistent offenders being ejected. Although the effects of vaping are still being studied most organisers have taken measures to including a ban on vaping in enclosed spaces too. 

Designated Areas. 
Whilst there is still a high number of festival-goers that smoke a prudent move by many organisers is to assign designated areas for smoking along with other areas that will be strictly no smoking. Many festivals implement smoke free areas around family orientated camping sites or where children's facilities and childcare are present Some festivals have gone completely smoke free so any smoking festival-goers need to check the event’s FAQs to determine their policy.  

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering. 

*UK Festival Awards and Conference market report 2017
Photo by Irina Iriser from Pexels

Andy Robertson
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