The notoriety of the EDM scene when it comes to substance abuse, whether deserved or not, has led to a new legal standard in London: Club-goers at certain venues in the British metropolis will be forced to take breathalyzer tests before entering. The goal is to prevent any issues before they start by denying access to party animals who show up sloshed (from Dancing Astronaut).
Although the city hasn't had issues with deaths or mass hospitalizations at shows as has happened at other festivals, such as what happened after Hardwell's disastrous show in Belfast during 2014. Rather than cancel electronic music performances however, the London Metropolitan Police force is aiming to block problems at the door.
The process has been tested at several locations thus far, and the police have stated that those denied entry based on a breathalyzer test are more likely to be cooperative than if denied based strictly on the judgement call of a bouncer. Somewhat surprising that folks that drunk are willing to cooperate under any circumstances but we'll take it.
It should be noted that the implantation of the breathalyzer process was in no way aimed at EDM music, but many suspect clubs likely to host such shows are more under-the-gun than others. Fabric, a popular nightclub in the city, was nearly shut down due to a multitude of drug offenses that occurred there but managed to stay open after agreeing to more intense security standards.
If responsible electronic music fans feel singled out, that's fair. However it beats the alternative, which is the banning of the music altogether. Fans were outraged this week when another venue, Hogan's Beach in Tampa, was forced to close its doors to major concerts as a result of complaints against attendees of shows featuring acts such as Skrillex and Afrojack because of drunk and disorderly conduct.
