RAVE ON, GATINEAU

Most raves are nowhere near as dangerous as some authorities would have us
believe; the ones that are wouldn't be ameliorated by Gatineau city
councillors' idea to let promoters hold the all-night dance parties in
public buildings.

By nature, raves are fly-by-night operations, put together in big venues by
promoters looking to make as much money as they can in one shot.

The safety concerns are obvious: overcrowding, skimping on security, and
promoters who don't sell liquor (so all ages can attend) but make their
money on overpriced water. And drugs, especially ecstasy, are part of the
scene, too.

But let's have some sanity in the discussion. Ottawa police are irked that
a rave means a lot of missing-persons calls from parents looking for their
teenagers. Fair enough, but teens not telling their parents where they're
gone isn't the promoters' fault. Police make the absurd claims that 85 per
cent of ravers are high and that teens sometimes trade sex for water at
these things.

Nonsense. Good research is hard to find, but what there is suggests the
prevalence of drug use at any given rave is much lower. Enough to get a
parent's attention, sure, but not enough for a mass panic. As for the
sex-for-water claim, if attendees are that thirsty, they can leave. They're
not desperate prisoners.

Next week, councillors will consider renting out two arenas and the Palais
des Congres to promoters who want to hold raves in them. If there are any,
their parties will be easier to police, easier to check for safety.

But a big part of many ravers' fun is raves' supposedly clandestine nature
- -- no way the Palais des Congres will compete with an empty warehouse as a
venue of choice.

Still, it's good to see the City of Gatineau making an effort to work with
rave promoters to make sure everyone has a good time without needlessly
jeopardizing anyone's safety. Co-operation is the right approach.