njlauren
Posts: 1577
Joined: 10/1/2011 Status: offline
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The standard mantra in BD/SM circles often has been no drinking when playing, etc. There can be problem at play parties with alcohol but that is the legal issues, like if it is a public play party and they charge admission, technically that is commercial and if selling alcohol you would need someone with a caterer's license to serve it. If it is a private party, of a club or person running it, then no license is needed. I think there is a difference between drinking and drunkenness, and if people want to imbibe and play it should be their right. As long as you have competent DM's, who can spot if someone has been drinking too much and stop them from playing, then it should be okay. I have heard some argue that if people want to get drunk and play, that is their business, the libertarian line, but that is foolish, because if something happens, it could bring down a lot of shit on the people sponsoring the party (no, folks, signing a disclaimer absolving those running it doesn't shield you from liability, it is legally almost useless). The other thing that the parties I went to made sure was that people going into the play area to watch weren't drunk either, because drunken spectators can cause problems, interfere in scenes and so forth. I think it is important to understand the risks of playing if you have drank more then a bit of alcohol, not just in things getting out of hand, but potential physiological problems, but that is simply part of using what brains you are supposed to have:). Me, I used to wait until after playing to have something, I kind of enjoyed it a lot more, but that was me:)
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