Ours is a small town in the Midwest. We have a State university and a military base is close by. In March, the bars in town sponsor a "Faux Patty's Day". Students are gone on Spring Break over St. Patrick's Day, so the bars schedule a "drunk fest" a week before. Bars begin selling alcohol on Friday night and don't stop until early Sunday morning. They will see 5,000 or more young people drinking until they cannot stand up. This event requires employing police from surrounding communities. The State Patrol bring in extra personnel. Military Police assist. We have people passed out in residents' yards and in the street. The bar owners have convinced the elected officials the sales tax revenue and hotel bed tax is well worth the problems generated.
Then, in June, we have a Country music drunk fest at the lake close to town. That event draws 10,000 to 20,000 and has top name performers. The event begins on Thursday night and lasts until Sunday. They will usually see arrests in the double digits for minors in possession, illegal drugs, assault, rape, etc. We've had deaths from stabbings and a park official was killed in an ATV accident. Hotel rooms are at least twice the going rack rate and are full. Liquor stores sell out. Grocery stores and convenience stores have trouble keeping enough alcohol in stock.
Each of these events flood our hospital emergency room with all kinds of injuries in addition to the alcohol poisoning. If a person suffers a heart attack, etc. there is no guarantee how soon an ambulance can respond if all are handling the fallout from the events. Locals have argued for many years that both events need scrapped. Local businessmen and their dollars far out-trump the average citizen. The cost of emergency workers and clean up after the events is more than paid for by sales tax revenue.
Australia isn't the only area that suffers from "They're just kids. Let them have their fun!"
