Big change at Bathurst!!

[peckstar]

alcohol ban

[pplatersgirl]

It was always going to happen eventually. They've been getting tighter and tighter with bag-checks for glass bottles in recent years.

But they will still sell beer at the track, albeit in delightful little plastic cups.

And according to Bx folklore, there are those who go to the track a couple of weeks early and bury their grog on the mountain, to be exhumed in race week.

[Average Punter]

And this is the bit that brings a tear to the eye...

Non-camping patrons attending on single days are also not permitted to bring alcohol into the venue. These patrons can purchase alcohol when inside the precinct from the licenced outlets at reasonable cost.

After paying $7 for a can of Bourbon at Hidden Valley last year, God only knows what a "reasonable cost" is.......

[racer69]

So how will this affect attendance?

When they banned alcohol from the Easter Bike meetings, it barely lasted another year (though it wasn't helped by the '85 riots of course).


And of course the catalyst for all this, who will be announced as the winning tenderer to exclusively sell their alcoholic products on the mountain this year at a reasonable cost?

[Pro Racer]

Will this effect the properties on the infield where you don't pay general admition etc or is it only places where you pay V8SA (or whoever does the event) to attend?

It is good where i stay you can park the car up have a few and park your bum in a seat for the 3 days.

[MRJUCY]

Campers can still bring alcohol to drink in the camping areas at least but it will still make the weekend more expensive for many people & make somebody a tidy sum although I'm sure there will be some creative smuggling still.

[auxred]

I think it is disgusting they wait until most people had bought their tickets and planned their weekend/budget before announcing the ban. It should have been done with plenty of notice so that people could decide if they wanted the extra expense.

[mountainstar]

Great news. I'm glad they are starting to do something.

[johnny yuma]

Originally Posted by Average Punter

And this is the bit that brings a tear to the eye...

Non-camping patrons attending on single days are also not permitted to bring alcohol into the venue. These patrons can purchase alcohol when inside the precinct from the licenced outlets at reasonable cost.

After paying $7 for a can of Bourbon at Hidden Valley last year, God only knows what a "reasonable cost" is.......

This quote from the "new safety measures" item does not quite make sense it looks like a bit of spin.When you read the FAQs on Camping ,and Tickets, sections both campers and day trippers appear able to bring in LIMITED amounts of grog but not in glass.You cannot take grog INTO or OUT OF the licensed areas.It is stated further day visitors can bring their own limited alcohol into CERTAIN UNLICENSED AREAS-ie not those areas licensed to SELL alcohol,or other unspecified areas.......clear as mud really !

[Average Punter]

So how "limited" does 2 eskies full of grog for 8 blokes sound???

[johnny yuma]

Originally Posted by Average Punter

So how "limited" does 2 eskies full of grog for 8 blokes sound???

What will u drink after lunch ?

[bathurst]

You can still BYO in the Campground. And if your not one who runs a muck and just sits round the fire havin a beer you [I hope] should have No Drama. Depends how far their zero tolerence policy goes. They were bound to do something sooner or later. Don't give into them though, Because if we aren't camping up there, and spectating, they would just replace us with Corporates.

[Crash Test]

Going back to the mid-1980s there was a booze ban on top of the hill. Not a worry! Everyone lobbed up at the gate with eskys full of ice, but no booze. The police were miffed when everyone was still off their nut, despite the apparent lack of grog... Seems as though someone came up the week before, dug a hole, filled it with beer, then covered it over until race week...

Also, when they banned ride on mowers etc becasue they weren't registered in 2004, everyone buggered off to the department of transport to get concessional registration for the weekend...

Where there is a will there is a way!

[bestfit]

In the late 80's I was camping on the mountain for the easter bike meeting just after they introduced a similar ban. All cars/bikes were being searched before letting them go to the top of the mountain.

A large mob set up camp next to us, and they pulled about a dozen fold up chairs from their various vehicles. Wrapped in each chair were 2 bottles of various spirits. Very clever.

[Raglanparade]

Yeah and i dont smuggle alcohol into the Melbourne cup...

All you need is an esky full of coke bottles... and the bottles of Jimmy up the jacket, rolled up inside clothes or tents.. beer will be harder to hide but hard spirits are usually easily smuggled..

[johnny yuma]

trick is dont come in first time loaded to the gunwales with grog before you've got your windscreen camping sticker.Thats when the boofhead swat team swarm over your stash.Bring a slab between 4 people,or a 6 pack each,EVERY time anyone goes downtown and comes back,and Robert is your mothers brother.

[Raglanparade]

just drive in and out of the gates all day.. 1 slab at a time.

[GTRMagic]

Here's a novel idea.... don't drink

[Raglanparade]

telling the bogans not to drink at bathurst would be like telling the pope to stop being religious.. its unlikely to happen.

[johnny yuma]

Any idea how boring 3 days at a sporting event can be without a drink? Perhaps one of you wowsers need to start up a new religion based on Pope Cochoran and his cardinals-lots of icons..delusions of grandeur ..merchandise..who will win predictions..no women...delusions of grandeur...just give us all your money !Got a name for it-V8 FUNDAMENTALISM !

[Henry]

Just as long as they don't look in my boogie board bag....

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by johnny yuma

Any idea how boring 3 days at a sporting event can be without a drink? Perhaps one of you wowsers need to start up a new religion based on Pope Cochoran and his cardinals-lots of icons..delusions of grandeur ..merchandise..who will win predictions..no women...delusions of grandeur...just give us all your money !Got a name for it-V8 FUNDAMENTALISM !

No wowsers at this end of the blips and blops... but if somethings is made illegal... then is there really any choice? Far better than having the product you already spent your hard earned on being confiscated

If the Bathurst precinct also subscribe to the "Responsible Service of Alcohol" ethos, the boys on the hill will need a "designated buyer" who stays sober enough to buy a slab or two from the official outlets over the weekend, or conceptually the supply will dry up.

[pete55]

I can go to an event and not drink at all (unless it is Diet Coke). There seems to be a fair few that can't seem to though. Some can't seem to be seen without a drink in their hand.
I do however drink so i am not a wowser.

[Muznik]

So for those of us that camp there, really the only restrictions are:

a) Wont be able to bring in huge amounts of alcohol. (Surely they will have to state the limits well before the weekend?)

b) Wont be able to wander around with alcohol. (Will we still be able to sit at the fence at McPhillamy with a coldie ?!?)

[STEVO]

Originally Posted by johnny yuma

Any idea how boring 3 days at a sporting event can be without a drink?

Well that's pretty sad mate.

Is it the Bathurst 1000 you wanna see or the "P*SS-Up 1000"?