Coachella responds to demand changes rule over alcohol consumption

Organisers of Coachella 2024 have reportedly responded to calls for a change in the rule over alcohol consumption at the festival.

In previous years, alcohol was only allowed to be consumed in certain fenced-off areas.

But footage has been shared this year by dance music publication GDE showing bars spread around the festival site, accessible to anyone with a 21+ wristband. You can view it below.

The publication also wrote on X: “One of the things the 21+ crowd absolutely HATED about Coachella was the fact you couldn’t walk around with a drink in hand, but it looks like that has changed this year as they’ve added bars throughout the festival.”

One of the things the 21+ crowd absolutely HATED about #Coachella was the fact you couldn’t walk around with a drink in hand, but it looks like that has changed this year as they’ve added bars throughout the festival. 🍻🏜️🎡🌴 pic.twitter.com/gTBN0sOHpy

— GDE (@GlobalDanceGDE) April 12, 2024

Day one of the California bash got underway last night with performances from Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter and The Japanese House.

But many fans took to social media to voice their disdain at the sound quality at this year’s festival especially on the main stage – known as the Coachella Stage.

Throughout the course of Del Rey’s performance, fans aired their grievances about the sound quality, as Lana’s microphone volume was noticeably lower than her backup singers’ and her microphone would occasionally beep and crackle.

Unfortunately, the sound issues continued when she brought out special guests such as Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste and Jack Antonoff to perform.

Elsewhere, Deftones covered The Smith’s ‘Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want’ while Suki Waterhouse covered Oasis‘ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and Justice performed a host of tracks from their new album ‘Hyperdrama’.

Shakira made a special guest appearance during Bizarrap’s set, during which she announced a new world tour. Sabrina Carpenter treated fans in attendance at the main stage to a visually stunning and hit-filled setlist and Lil Uzi Vert broke out the hits for their high-octane set. For more live updates as it happens, check out NME’s liveblog for Coachella 2024 here.