A mother trusts her daughter – but can she trust her enough to go to Electric Picnic while still underage? 

She told Parenting on Moncrieff her 17-year-old daughter “really wants” to attend Electric Picnic on August 16th. 

“She's young for her friend group, and the rest of them are all 18,” he said. 

“She will be turning 18 at the end of August, so she's not far off – she’s used a fake ID for nights out with her friends, and wants to do the same for the festival. 

“She's really not exaggerating this time when she says that all her friends are going.” 

The mother said she doesn’t want to “exclude” her daughter from a big event with friends – but she’s “apprehensive” about letting her daughter drink in a field for three days. 

“She's completely trustworthy and has never been in trouble,” she said. “There are many external factors at play when at a festival – what should I do?” 

Family psychotherapist Joanna Fortune said if the sole issue was the daughter being underage, then “that’s the decision made”. 

“But that's not how this reads,” she said. “She will be underage by all of two, or three weeks. 

“My question to this parent would be, if Electric Picnic was on in September, would you have any cause for concern? 

“Because if your answer is no, she'd be 18, then actually, that's not the issue that's going on here.” 

Attending Electric Picnic

She said she is not “making the decision” for the parent whatsoever – but if the mother is open to her daughter going to Electric Picnic, they need to consider all possible risks. 

“Your fake ID, what if it doesn't work? What if you don't get in with your friends - what is your plan for when you get stuck at the gates?” she said. 

“You do realistically need a plan like that, so put it to her and see how she reacts to that. 

“Because sometimes when you talk to your kids, particularly around this age, about a safety plan, you're raising things that they may not have considered. 

“I'm talking about sticking with your friends, not getting separated, watching your drink if you put it down and you've turned your back on it.” 

Crowds at the Electric Arena for the Wolfe Tones at Electric Picnic. (Photo by Electric Picnic)

Joanna said it sounds like she trusts her daughter to attend Electric Picnic – but she might not trust the “strangers [she’s] going to cross paths with”, which is important to consider. 

“I'd be keeping your phone on for the three days of the festival, day and night, because if [the daughter] does need to be picked up, you might have a late-night drive ahead of you,” she said. 

If the mother decides there is too much risk involved, she needs to “put her foot down”, according to Joanna. 

“You've got to say to her next year, we revisit it, but this year we're just not there yet,” she said. “Put her out of her misery.” 

The choice is ultimately between allowing her daughter to go to Electric Picnic, and dealing with the anxieties of that, or forbidding her – and dealing with the emotional fallout. 

Visit drinkaware.ie for more information. 

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