To the editor,
My wife and I really enjoyed the music at this year's Blues Festival.
However the statement by Mr. Hurtig that "Ontario liquor licenses are very clear regarding the promoters responsibilities" does not hold water since the responsibilities do not include the prohibition of empty drink containers.
There is no provincial policy that prevents an attendee from bringing in an empty drink container to hold water, beer or whatever I want to buy at the Blues Fest and pour into my empty container.
I totally dislike drinking beer out of a can and so do a lot of other people. The prohibition of empty drink containers is not the policy in Ontario.
The Ottawa Blues Fest, which happens to be the biggest in Canada, allows the entry of sealed water bottles and soft-sided coolers. The London, Windsor and Kingston Blues festivals do not prohibit empty drink containers.
The Toronto Beer Festival even provides attendees with a souvenir glass beer stein upon entering the festival grounds.
We were asked by a number of people attending from other parts of Ontario and the United States why empty drink containers were not allowed into the festival grounds. We had no answer and neither did security.
If I wear my Thunder Bay Blues Fest souvenir T-Shirt to the Fargo Blues Festival in two weeks, people will comment about the great line-up but will also say "oh yeah, that's the Blues Fest that does not allow you to bring in your empty beer mug."
It is time to change the policy.
Do like they do at other festivals that allow empty drink containers. Just hold it upside down on your way out to prove that it is empty and no liquor laws will be broken.
John Vandergraaf,
Terrace Bay