Festivals: preventing risks related to alcohol, drugs, and chemical submission
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What risks should be included in the prevention plan?
Festivals combine crowds, fatigue, heat, alcohol, movement, and sometimes consumption of unknown substances. The main risks include fainting, accidents, violence, loss of vigilance, driving under the influence, and situations of chemical submission or vulnerability.
Prevention must be built based on the expected audience, site layout, schedules, points of sale, transportation, and available emergency resources.
Before opening: prepare teams and alert circuits
- appoint clearly identified contacts;
- train teams to recognize signs of fainting, confusion, or loss of consciousness;
- define who calls emergency services, who accompanies the person, and who secures the area;
- provide a calm, visible, and accessible space without isolating the victim;
- make water, information, and safe return solutions available;
- coordinate security, emergency services, volunteers, bars, and organizers.
During the event: make prevention accessible
Messages should remain simple and non-judgmental. Teams must be able to guide a person without judging them, intervene when a drink seems suspicious, and spot signs disproportionate to declared consumption.
Risk reduction devices can include glass condoms, Test Ton Verre® cards or bracelets, breathalyzers, informational materials, and technological tools like B-SAFE. Their choice depends on the context and intended use.
What can detection tools really bring?
A targeted tool can enhance vigilance toward certain substances or situations. It never detects all molecules, does not guarantee a drink is safe, and does not replace toxicological analysis.
B-SAFE is a connected device designed to provide information on certain suspected substances in a drink via its app. Test Ton Verre® cards and bracelets follow a different usage logic. Each device must be used according to its instructions and integrated into an overall protocol.
What to do in case of suspected chemical submission?
- secure the person and do not leave them alone;
- call 15 or 112 in case of fainting or serious doubt;
- avoid blaming and collect only useful information;
- if possible, keep the glass, bottle, and any elements that may help;
- encourage rapid medical evaluation, as some detection windows are short;
- preserve confidentiality and refer to competent services.
Also prevent road risks
Leaving the festival should be prepared as much as entering. Information on transport, waiting areas, designated drivers, and breathalyzers can reduce dangerous departures. However, a self-test never constitutes permission to drive.
Build a tailored system
AMA Prévention supports organizers to size quantities, select tools, prepare messages, and train teams without shifting responsibility onto victims.
Prepare your systemDiscover B-SAFE
