Chips Ban at festivals?

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 3:17pm #1

Anyone know the reason behind this? At electric picnic even with the huge variety of foods available there were no chips. Eddie Rockets even removed fries from their menu. The staff told me that they weren't allowed to sell them for legal reasons and that this was happening at every festival. When I asked them for more details they were very tightlipped.

Firstly I thought it was to do with the packaging, some slightly short sighted person deciding that the rubbish at festivals was a disgrace and the way to solve the problem was to ban chips. But then I realised that even though nowhere was selling chips, you could buy hot potatoes in every other form that you could think of. The fish and chips van had resorted to selling potato cubes - a clearly inferior product and the complete lack of explanation from anyone really infuriated me. I mean, I can understand a smoking ban, I can understand a plastic carrier bag tax, I can even understand a chewing gum tax but how dare you take my chips!

I can't think of any other good reason why they would have banned this one foodstuff from festivals, does anyone know the real reason?

pickarooney · 07-09-2005 3:27pm

Vegans suing the world 'cause their chips were cooked in lard?
This is a fairly weird story.

Kiera · 07-09-2005 3:30pm

There was none at the last Dublin match too. All the chip signs where blocked out but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Actaully i'm still not thinking about it now

pickarooney · 07-09-2005 3:33pm

Can you still get chips in shops?? I'm going to Ireland for the first time in nearly two years next week, and there'd better be Burdocks!

Kiera · 07-09-2005 3:35pm

Whats Burdocks?

Pigman II · 07-09-2005 3:36pm

I'd imagine because they make a excellent projectile (esp when hot and covered in grease).

johnny_ultimate · 07-09-2005 3:38pm

Chips ban??? But they're always the best thing at a concert / event / other thingie! This is a sad day, friends....
They cant stop it on the high street though, can they??? Imagine a Dublin without Leo Burdocks, the ultimate chipper! Sniff...

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 3:47pm

I don't think it applies to the high street at all, I had chips in a restaurant the following day. But since I don't live in Ireland I was wondering if there was a law passed or something since I've been away to do with chips at festivals.

The strange thing was that nobody seemed to care very much. I kicked up a bit of a fuss, more in a bewildered way because they wouldn't tell me why they weren't selling them, but your average consumer was happily chowing down on the potatoe cubes etc. without so much as a raised eyebrow. It seems odd to me and rather scary, that consumers blindly give in to the market like that. I mean, surely if people refuse to buy these stupid alternative to chips then they will bring chips back? I don't think we should allow chips to be banned so easily.

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 3:49pm

Pigman II wrote:

I'd imagine because they make a excellent projectile (esp when hot and covered in grease).

As opposed to potato wedges, potato cubes, boiled potatoes, hamburgers? You could be right though, as they refused to give out the lids for soft drink bottles for that very reason. It just seems a bit pointless, and nanny state.

pickarooney · 07-09-2005 3:49pm

Someone must know what the hell is going on. Was there mass food poisoning at some gig from badly cooked chips?

ApeXaviour · 07-09-2005 3:51pm

Kiera wrote:

Whats Burdocks?

It's a very greasy (but delicious) traditional fish n chips shop. It's as dublin as croke park

Gazza22 · 07-09-2005 4:03pm

Probably the mess that is left behind because of chips. During a festival, chips mashed into the ground everywhere is a very common sight.

Maybe they're just sick and tired of this crap...ahh but they are doing us a favour! 15 crappy grease sticks in a little plastic box for €3.50 :rolleyes:

WellyJ · 07-09-2005 4:17pm

skipn_easy wrote:

As opposed to potato wedges, potato cubes, boiled potatoes, hamburgers? You could be right though, as they refused to give out the lids for soft drink bottles for that very reason. It just seems a bit pointless, and nanny state.

Actually its not because people throw the lids, its because they throw the full bottles and that can pretty much kill someone. If you throw it without a lid the liquid pretty much falls out

Wertz · 07-09-2005 4:18pm

I'd say it's insurance...most things like this come back to that.

If you've ever seen a chip squashed on the ground you'll know it's slippier than a banana skin...most likely someone sued one of the big promoters or their insurance company last year, and when they got the premiums for this year, decided to do this....only thing that I can think of that makes any sense...

rubadub · 07-09-2005 4:24pm

Potato "cubes" (small chips) can also be mashed in the ground.
I presumed it would be throwing, but cubes can be thrown, people are less likely to throw burgers, but knowing the dire chips at festival they are likely to be flung.(abrakebabra's things should not be called food)
Dont know what all the secrecy is, would love to see the legal definition of chips and how cubes can by-pass it.

Maybe some band was hit ONCE, so the big ban now.

Just like that bastard bomber who put a device in his shoe, now you have to take your shoes off in dublin airport, fuking crazy, if it fits in your shoe it fits in your pocket and the metal detector will still pick it up. Why couldnt it have been a woman bomber smuggling stuff in her bra...

Ann Elk · 07-09-2005 4:26pm

I heard that Ponch and Baker get a bit shirty in the Mosh pit - most places won't let them in now.

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 4:28pm

WellyJ wrote:

Actually its not because people throw the lids, its because they throw the full bottles and that can pretty much kill someone. If you throw it without a lid the liquid pretty much falls out

I never said people threw the lids, sure that wouldn't hurt much would it? But since I was allowed to bring my own lids in, and my own bottles of water with lids on them, it seems pointless to stop them being sold within the grounds. Also, even if the lid is taken off, and I throw it full of water at someone, I still reckon it would hurt pretty bad cos depending on how I throw it, not all the water is going to come out.

cregser · 07-09-2005 4:30pm

I'm sure you're somewhere on the right track Wertz. When it comes to moneys their money's money is all that moneys.

skipn_easy wrote:

The strange thing was that nobody seemed to care very much. I kicked up a bit of a fuss, more in a bewildered way because they wouldn't tell me why they weren't selling them, but your average consumer was happily chowing down on the potatoe cubes etc. without so much as a raised eyebrow. It seems odd to me and rather scary, that consumers blindly give in to the market like that. I mean, surely if people refuse to buy these stupid alternative to chips then they will bring chips back? I don't think we should allow chips to be banned so easily.

Em, Irish consumers are generally sheep with wallets - multiply this with young, drunk, drugged out festival goers and have people that will settle for anything, and pay crazy money for it. Only Eddie Hobbs can save us.

Wertz · 07-09-2005 4:31pm

rubadub wrote:

Just like that bastard bomber who put a device in his shoe, now you have to take your shoes off in dublin airport, fuking crazy, if it fits in your shoe it fits in your pocket and the metal detector will still pick it up. Why couldnt it have been a woman bomber smuggling stuff in her bra...

For real? Fook that...happily I tend to use belfast intl where there's always been good security...good enough that they don't have to upgrade it to make it look airtight.

If I took off my shoes in a public place, I'd be done for biological warfare

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 4:32pm

gazza22 wrote:

Probably the mess that is left behind because of chips. During a festival, chips mashed into the ground everywhere is a very common sight.

Maybe they're just sick and tired of this crap...ahh but they are doing us a favour! 15 crappy grease sticks in a little plastic box for €3.50 :rolleyes:

But the point is, they haven't banned all other types of food stuff, chewing gum, crepes, boiled potatoes, wedges etc. And the place is going to be wrecked when you have 25,000 people walking around it anyway. In my 2 days at EP, I only saw one bin, I would say having more bins around would cut down on rubbish more than banning one particular food.

To your other point, doing us a favour? In what way, by banning something that we all like and are willing to pay for? I guess you're one of the people that thinks cigarettes should be banned as well, maybe the government should ban everything bad for you so you never have to make a decision in your life but never have to worry about eating something bad, or spending too much money or having any fun.

bounty_hunter · 07-09-2005 4:35pm

This is quite bizarre altogether. I can't think of any reasonable reason why chips should be banned and "potato cubes" shouldn't. They're essentially the same thing, just differently shaped.

Wertz · 07-09-2005 4:48pm

BTW I was always of the opinion that the reason they won't give you a lid with your bottle is cos they get trod into the ground and are a nightmare to clean up.
That in combination with those greedy c**ts that don't want you refilling with water from the drinking taps...

The Real B-man · 07-09-2005 4:52pm

fooking hippys

Tusky · 07-09-2005 4:55pm

Are ye crazy? I bought chips at Electric Picnic from two different places. They were on sale...

GreenHell · 07-09-2005 5:03pm

I saw someone eating curry chips at the electric picnic, I was going to lock down the offending packet and sternly lecture the crazy bastard who purchased such an illicit substance but I decided against it cause I was tired.

Girl the chiper van told me when I asked about chips "I do chips!" in a thick dublin accent she looked very distressed about it so I left it at that.

skipn_easy · 07-09-2005 5:09pm

Are you serious? I was told at three different places that they weren't allowed sell chips.

Hitchhiker's Guide to... · 07-09-2005 5:09pm

i presume for profit-making purposes that only certain fast-food places at the Electric Picnic were given the right to sell chips - thus, the others had to improvise and come up with potato cubes.

Obviously, there is no law banning the sale of chips.

There may be something in the insurance or cleaning thing, but its more likely to be a money thing...

rubadub · 07-09-2005 5:10pm

I rang the gardai, seems you will just get a formal caution for up to an ounce. Over that and you are dealing. Burdocks are considered class A.

GreenHell · 07-09-2005 5:13pm

I know a guy who can hook me up with some oven chips.

netwhizkid · 07-09-2005 5:31pm

To clarify is this French Fries (freedom fries in the us) ye are talking about or Potato Chips (American crisps), I heard there was bootleg chips coming into spud harbour soon. To think they ban Chips and not Alcohol !

ergo · 07-09-2005 5:32pm

what about those Home Fries that were on sale at the Electric Picnic...?

from the outlet called "Home Fries"....?

OK, so maybe they weren't chips cos they actually contained some potato and actually tasted good

but I did notice the Diner place right beside the Fries place couldn't sell chips... for whatever reason

rubadub · 07-09-2005 5:53pm

GreenHell wrote:

I know a guy who can hook me up with some oven chips.

The methadone of chips, not the same buzz of them at all

johnny_ultimate · 07-09-2005 6:38pm

Woah Ive been two days without a hit. I can give up whenever I want! You can't tell me what to do!

If anyone can hook me up, ANYONE, I NEED CHIPS!

Ann Elk · 07-09-2005 6:48pm

johnny_ultimate wrote:

Woah Ive been two days without a hit. I can give up whenever I want! You can't tell me what to do!

If anyone can hook me up, ANYONE, I NEED CHIPS!

Glad to oblige........................................

robinph · 07-09-2005 6:58pm

The only reason that lids are taken off bottles is so that they can charge you more for liquid, either alcohol or just plain water, once your inside their control. The thing about being used as a weapon is just a cover story, so that they can take a bottle of water off you on the way in.

The only reason I can think of about not being able to get chips though is that someone must have copyrighted the design or something equally stupid.

Metacortex · 07-09-2005 8:47pm

skipn_easy wrote:

Anyone know the reason behind this? At electric picnic even with the huge variety of foods available there were no chips. Eddie Rockets even removed fries from their menu. The staff told me that they weren't allowed to sell them for legal reasons and that this was happening at every festival. When I asked them for more details they were very tightlipped.

Firstly I thought it was to do with the packaging, some slightly short sighted person deciding that the rubbish at festivals was a disgrace and the way to solve the problem was to ban chips. But then I realised that even though nowhere was selling chips, you could buy hot potatoes in every other form that you could think of. The fish and chips van had resorted to selling potato cubes - a clearly inferior product and the complete lack of explanation from anyone really infuriated me. I mean, I can understand a smoking ban, I can understand a plastic carrier bag tax, I can even understand a chewing gum tax but how dare you take my chips!

I can't think of any other good reason why they would have banned this one foodstuff from festivals, does anyone know the real reason?

I thought it was pretty bizarre too. Those square chips tasted the same as regular chips so i fail to see why they weren't seeling them.

TerrorFirmer · 07-09-2005 9:39pm

bounty_hunter wrote:

This is quite bizarre altogether. I can't think of any reasonable reason why chips should be banned and "potato cubes" shouldn't. They're essentially the same thing, just differently shaped.

What can I say, the above says it all. What a wierd, wierd story...

Rabies · 07-09-2005 10:15pm

Roundtower2 wrote:

There may be something in the insurance or cleaning thing, but its more likely to be a money thing...

Definitly not a cleaning thing. There is no problem with that. Doubt if it is an insurance thing either.

Chips were available on site. Just not from every vendor, which is weird.
There was a good range of food at the festival. The promoters want to make it different from the run of the mill festival. The of food was a nice change.

shellby · 08-09-2005 8:55am

did some one not say that they weren't available at the dublin match
man i'd kill for a chips sandwhich about now - loads of butter, an easysingle and ketchup .............. drools

ven0m · 08-09-2005 9:20am

Kiera wrote:

Whats Burdocks?

YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

You Don't know what Burdocks Is???? Burdocks do the BEST Fish & Chips in the country!!!!!!

::: ven0mous :::

wilkins · 08-09-2005 9:29am

Probably banned chips because their 'other' food ranges make more money

i.e. Hamburger €10
Baked potatoe with filling €7
Posh Potatoe cubes €6
Nachos €9

The spin on the food offering at electric picnic was that it was 'fresh,' 'organic' food, not the usual muck you find at festivals. Whether it's true or not is another matter.................

08-09-2005 9:31am

skipn_easy wrote:

I never said people threw the lids, sure that wouldn't hurt much would it? But since I was allowed to bring my own lids in, and my own bottles of water with lids on them, it seems pointless to stop them being sold within the grounds.

You're not allowed bring them into the festival areas, you're only allowed them in the campsites

skipn_easy wrote:

Also, even if the lid is taken off, and I throw it full of water at someone, I still reckon it would hurt pretty bad cos depending on how I throw it, not all the water is going to come out.

It would need to be a very good throw from very close. The main thing is to stop people throwing them at bands, which is generally at least a 20ft throw. Besides, it doesn't matter much if there's still water in it, there is a massive difference between being hit by a full bottle with it's lid on versus a full bottle with no lid. If the lid is on, there's nowhere for the weight to go, it's solid. You may as well be throwing a brick. With no lid, when the bottle hits, the water gets compressed, goes out the top, there's a bit of give in the bottle.

skipn_easy · 08-09-2005 10:29am

28064212 wrote:

You're not allowed bring them into the festival areas, you're only allowed them in the campsites.

Yes you are. To get in to the festival they had people checking bags to make sure they weren't bringing alcohol in. There was no problem with bottles of water/soft drinks as I took several in (they checked my bag and let me in with them).

Suaimhneach · 08-09-2005 3:52pm

So has anyone figured this out yet?

Chips Ban at festivals?

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