Montevideo mandates free drinking water at events, issues nine sanctions since 2018

Since 2018, Montevideo has enforced a regulation requiring all public events, including festivals, dances, and shows, to provide free access to potable water. This measure was prompted by a tragic incident in Buenos Aires in 2016 where five young people died after consuming designer drugs at an electronic music festival.

The Public Spectacles department of the Intendancy of Montevideo (IMM) conducts inspections to ensure compliance. Since the regulation's inception, the city has imposed nine sanctions on event organizers, typically resulting in fines equivalent to 5 Reajustable Units, approximately $9,600 Uruguayan pesos today.

“

free and sufficient potable water

The regulations stipulate that potable water must be provided free of charge and in sufficient quantities, accessible to the public. The water must be served in fixtures separate from restrooms and maintained at a temperature suitable for hydration, not exceeding 20°C. Furthermore, if venues have potable water storage, annual accreditation for their maintenance and cleaning by an authorized company is required.

Event organizers must adhere to these rules to obtain permits. The IMM conducts "oversight tasks" during events to verify compliance, though details on the frequency and methods of these controls were not provided. When violations are detected, administrative procedures are initiated. Sanctions have been issued in recent years, including fines for events like Montevideo Music Box, Festival Palau, and Music Land, highlighting the ongoing enforcement of this public health measure.

“

suitable for hydration, which may not exceed 20°C