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Recently, the PCN Bank Arts Center has recently banned alcohol from their parking lots, supposedly because too much underage drinking was going on. This came to a head when two people (neither of which were underaged) died during a recent concert. Banning alcohol from the parking lots (ie, tailgating) does absolutely nothing to address this, and actually creates a much greater and more dangerous problem. The venue continues to sell alcohol on its premises, at ridiculously inflated prices ($8.00 for a beer), and all this does is eliminate competition for the venue’s own alcohol sales. If they were serious, they’d stop selling alcohol all together, but as that probably represents one of the largest profit-making parts of their operation, you won’t see that happen.

Instead of drinking at the venue’s parking lots, many are meeting at parkway rest areas, local parks and other areas to drink prior to the concerts. Not only are these locations totally unsupervised (compared to the venue’s parking lots, which is supervised by the NJ State Police), but it also puts large number of potentially drunken drivers on the road, driving from these new tailgate locations to the venue. Isn’t it better if these people are going to drink (and they are) to have them do so in a safe and secure location?

The underage problem can easily be addressed the way it is at most venues. Set up a location in each parking lot (there are 2 satellite lots at PNC in addition to the main lot) where patrons can go, have their ID checked, and be issued wristbands, which are affixed to them at that time. Then, the State Police have a much easier time patrolling for underaged drinking. No wristband, and you’ve got a drink, you get checked out. You’ve got a wristband, and you’re not causing any problems, no problem. Obviously anyone acting drunk and disorderly, no matter what their age, should be arrested.

This wouldn’t even cost the Turnpike Authority (the operators of the venue) any money. The wristbands can be (and are at many other venues) provided by the beer distributors and/or other event sponsors. I’m sure an organization such as MADD would provide staffing for the booths handing out the wristbands, as they should be eager to help prevent underaged drinking. Wristbanded patrons will also make it much easier for the venue’s own beer sales staff to sell only to those who’re of legal drinking age.

As it is, they’re simply punishing innocent people for the actions of a small minority. I purchased tickets to a concert at a venue where tailgating was permitted. Now it isn’t. Shouldn’t the venue refund my money? Obviously, as they’ve changed their policies which directly affect my enjoyment of their facility, and in a negative fashion, they should be liable for a full refund of all my costs to acquire tickets to the show at their venue. Either that, or they should allow the show to go on as originally advertised, and only prohibit tailgating at those shows for which tickets have not previously been sold.

I’m thinking that somewhere in there is something which represents a breach of contract. Even prohibiting drinking in the parking lots may not actually be legal (to this point, no one of drinking age has actually been ticketed). Supposedly the ticket will not be for drinking, but for “failure to follow signage”. Now, what if that signage isn’t legally enforceable (remember, alcohol IS legal at the venue, as is drinking it on premesis if you’re of legal age)? Do you have any legal obligation to obey signage that isn’t legally enforceable? I think not, and I think that’s why nobody is getting any tickets, unless they’re breaking some other law (such as drinking underage).