The Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 accumulates one more complaint. The consumer protection association Facua has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 against the organizers for preventing attendees from entering Madring with food purchased outside. The same conduct was implemented at the Reggaeton Beach Festival, for which the promoting and organizing company of the concerts was sanctioned.
The FAQ section of the event’s website states that “it is not allowed to enter the venue with your own food or drink, unless the venue’s regulations allow some exception.” Food, as well as glass, metal, and plastic bottles, are also listed among the prohibited items.
The organization states that the prohibition “does not respond to reasons of safety, hygiene, or any other objective cause that justifies it” and ruled out that it affects the development of activities at the race circuit. Furthermore, they consider it a limitation of users’ rights because eating and drinking is allowed inside the venue, but only if the food is purchased inside. The organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix have not made their position known at this time.
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The association has recalled that the organizers of the Reggaeton Beach Festival implemented the same prohibition and were sanctioned. On August 4 of this year, the Ministry of Consumption fined the concert organizers 320,000 euros for charging an extra fee as management costs, imposing additional payments for re-entry to the venue, irregularities in keeping the leftover money from cashless payment wristbands, and preventing access with food and drinks purchased outside. All practices were considered abusive against consumers.