St. Gallen Gets Over Drinking Problem

This year’s Openair St. Gallen in Switzerland sold out for the fourth time in five years, recovering from last year’s blip caused by fans protesting the new booze regulations.

Some mainly local festival-goers were unhappy to be told they couldn’t bring more than three litres of beer to the site. More than 4,000 of them set up a facebook campaign and boycotted the event.

Last year’s festival fell short of its 30,000 capacity, but had sold out for the previous three years.

“It’s good to be back,” festival booker Christof Huber told Pollstar, explaining that a new delivery service that brings beer to the site at shop prices appears to have resolved the issue.

Huber also feels last year’s bill was a little “too progressive” for the region and this time focussed on more mainstream acts.

The acts helping St. Gallen overcome its drink problems June 30 to July 3 included Linkin Park, Dizzee Rascal, The National, Hurts, Die Fantastischen Vier, and Wir Sind Helden.