FACUA-Consumers in Action reported a series of complaints this Friday, alleging that festival attendees were blocked from bringing food and drink from outside the venue into music events across Spain.
Sanchez explained that this year organizers faced a decision to limit the so-called right of admission. The association argues that such measures are unlawful, especially when they effectively bar participants from bringing sustenance or beverages into enclosures. He noted that some attendees were forced to purchase overpriced food and drink inside venues, describing the prices as exorbitant.
festivals
Among the organizers named were Or Son do Camiño in Santiago de Compostela, which reportedly adjusted its policy by lifting the restriction after exceeding the proposed limits. Other mentioned events included Gandía Pirate Beach Festival, Interstellar, Iconica Fest in Seville, the Antilopez concert and the Bomb festival in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, as well as occurrences in Gran Canaria and, briefly, Llanera, Fuengirola and Alicante.
In 2022 the association condemned more than twenty events for similar concerns. Sanchez stated that restricting consumer access to food and beverages is an unlawful practice. He emphasized that the right of admission should be used for security reasons, not as a tool to boost a company’s profits.
Illegal practices and inadequate measures
The nonprofit also warned about a more recent concern: prohibiting free exit from the event area when attendees want to re-enter, thereby preventing people from eating away from the venue or returning home for meals. Sanchez described this as a troubling twist in a cycle of lawless behavior. He also noted that some local organizers have begun to address the issue, though he considers their actions insufficient given the demands FACUA has put forward. The association pointed out that it is unacceptable for a festival to earn earnings from food consumption that could amount to tens of thousands of euros, while fines for inside-the-venue drinks can reach thousands of euros. FACUA argues these penalties fail to deter the illegality and, in some cases, create a toll-like system for violations.
appeal to consumers
Sanchez advised attendees that they may seek financial compensation by filing a claim with the event organizers for the damages incurred. They can also reach out to the association for guidance or to pursue responsibility. Additionally, attention was drawn to relevant legal provisions. Article 82 of the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007 of 16 November is cited in relation to unfair terms. These provisions address contracts that create significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of the parties, harming consumers and users, and are considered contrary to fairness rules.