There have always been drug related deaths at festivals, just as there have been lots of taking drugs at festivals. Some people are exploring practical, pragmatic approaches to help stop the casualties, and rather than declaring a failed war on drugs one idea is to allow people to test their drugs at festivals before they take them, so they know if they’ll be relatively safe.

 

This was trailed at Secret Garden Party and might happen at Reading and Leeds, as well as Latitude, V and Wireless this year. Live Nation’s Melvin Benn has been talking to the press about the idea, and while they are still waiting for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to agree, the will is there. He and Live Nation want this enlightened approach.

 

“We talked about it during the summer of last year and the reality is that I took a decision that unless and until the NPCC supported the principle of it, it was difficult for us to move forward on it.”