Littering at concert venues

havetoquit

I hope this topic will be acceptable within this thread, but feel the need to air my serious concerns regarding littering before, during and after concerts in and around the venue area.
I took a large group of European visitors to our country to a concert in the RDS recently and both they and myself were shocked and disgusted at the amount of litter not only in the areas directly outside the arena where food and drink was served, but even on the pavement directly in front of the venue and all along the perimeter.
As you can imagine, I was asked questions that made me cringe with embarrassment; ' Why are the stewards and police not approaching litter louts and warning them with a fine or removal? Why do you have so few toilets for 35.000 people? Why are ladies using men's toilets and men urinating behind the toilet? Why are very young children allowed at a rock concert and exposed to such behavior as men swearing and falling around etc'
I have to concede that seeing stewards and police simply standing around witnessing what was going on was difficult to understand.

I have been to concerts in many European countries and never witnessed littering on this scale. I find it shameful and such a bad reflection on our beautiful country and those of us who care about our environment and want to give a good example to children.

bijapos

My own opinion/answers are in bold type below.

havetoquit wrote: »

As you can imagine, I was asked questions that made me cringe with embarrassment; ' Why are the stewards and police not approaching litter louts and warning them with a fine or removal?

Because the stewards don't care and the Gardai are just there to stop serious trouble. if you ever wonder why Gardai are so slow to approach minor offenders like this then ask a garda some day about the amount of time and paperwork involved in bringing one of these people to court and having them fined. Then look at the same process in Switzerland, Germany etc, it's a huge difference.

The venue and areas around it are cleaned up afterwards and this satisfies the stewards and gardai. It is a lot cheaper for the promoter to pay for a one off clean up afterwards then to provide enough bins at the event and ensure that they are regularly emptied, Croke Park at any football match is a great example of this, everybody dumps their rubbish on the ground, it's cleaned up afterwards as it's cheaper. Again the regulations would need to be changed to stop this happening

Why do you have so few toilets for 35.000 people?

Because they have the minimum necessary for the event, they are following council regulations in this matter. The promoter is there to make money and for no other reasons, so saving on toilets = more profit in this case. If you want it changed then lobby your local councillor to lobby DCC.

Why are ladies using men's toilets and men urinating behind the toilet?

Because there are never enough toilets for women anywhere, again the regulation needs to be changed. far better would be to have some womens toilets, some mens and a load of unisex toilets. More pissoirs would also help. It woudl also help if the pissoirs had a bit of protection from straying eyes thus minimising "stage fright" and making more men acceptable to using pissoirs.

I can't blame women for using mens toilets, some of the queues are legendary at womens toilets at these events.

Why are very young children allowed at a rock concert and exposed to such behavior as men swearing and falling around etc'
I have to concede that seeing stewards and police simply standing around witnessing what was going on was difficult to understand.

Ask the parents why they brought the kids there in the first place. Men (and women) have been swearing and falling around at concerts since time began.

havetoquit

Hi and thank you for your great response.. a very honest and informative one at that and not without a little humor! I liked that and yes, will do as you suggest and take it up with a Councillor. I take all your comments on board and you have enlightened me on many aspects and it seems imperative that the legislation be changed. I mean if concert goers in other countries can enjoy a coffee/glass of wine and sit around tables at areas outside the arena, have adequate toilet facilities, then why not us? We are presenting such a bad image to those who come from around the world and pay good money to attend our concerts and of course if we really cared, then we too should as you so rightly said lobby for change. We seem to be so accepting of bad behavior and bad service. If it costs so much to bring these louts to justice, then at the very least why not eject them from the venue, or fine them on the spot for their blatant littering? If they are made aware of this, perhaps it would help. I agree entirely with you about the parents being asked why they bring their very young children to adult concerts and then take them right up to the stage area where the decibels must so affect their little ears. Add to that the kind of language and gross behavior they are subjected to at times. It might help if they are refused tickets for children at the box office or at entry. I witnessed a very tired little girl crying at the Bruce Springsteen concert and asking to go home. Her Mother was so busy screaming and shaking her fist in the air that her cries were ignored. That says it all doesn't it? Anyway, it is good for us all to have a place to vent and thank you for indulging me in mine.