Get Your Tickets TO Bonnaroo, Not AT Bonnaroo

The lineup for Bonnaroo 2015 is going to be announced soon, and people from all over the country will be planning their visit to the 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee to enjoy the festival. Four day long concerts like Bonnaroo feature more than just music, because they celebrate the arts in general. If this year is like past years, attendees will be able to sample craft beers and local fare for days.

We want everyone to have a terrific time at Bonnaroo this year, but we also want you to be safe. Police will be present in and around the farm, and those craft beers (as well as any other beer, liquor or wine available from vendors) could lead to a number of charges if you are not responsible about your drinking.

Common alcohol-related charges

It is legal to drink alcohol at Bonnaroo if you are the legal age of 21 or older. But just because you are at a festival does not mean you can be irresponsible while you drink. Some of the more common alcohol-related charges include:

• If you drink, you cannot drive – period. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Tennessee is .08, but you can still be ticketed if you are under that limit. The charge is driving under the influence, not driving while intoxicated; a .07 can still land you in hot water.
• Disorderly conduct. Festivals let you cut loose, but you must abide by the laws. A disorderly conduct charge can be levied against any person who “commits an offense… in a public place and with intent to cause public annoyance or alarm,” such as refusing to move away from unsafe areas by order of a cop, or by engaging in threatening behavior.
• Minor in possession. If you are under 21, you cannot drink. If you are under 21 and try to “pass” for older than 21, the cops can still charge you with a misdemeanor. It is also illegal to purchase alcohol for anyone under the legal age. A minor in possession charge can cost you fees as well as your driver’s license, and you may also be required to take alcohol counseling or perform community service.

If you are of legal age to drink during the time of Bonnaroo, you are within your rights to do so. Just be smart about it: get a designated driver or call a cab, and focus on enjoying all the festival has to offer, as opposed to starting a fight. Tennessee police officers are quick to charge anyone they see as belligerent, so your best bet is to avoid any behaviors that might attract their attention.

To learn more about Tennessee’s alcohol-related laws, or to speak with a dedicated attorney about charges you are facing, please contact the Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates. You can call us at any time of the day or night, and we will go to see clients who have been taken to the local jail. We also work with festival goers who are not from Tennessee, who need help getting home to their families.