'A large number' of concert attendees who were rushed to hospital were underage drinkers 'experiencing severe intoxication.'
- Jul 24, 2017
AceShowbiz - Over 90 people were hospitalized for "severe intoxication" during Chance the Rapper's headlining set at Hot 93.7's Hot Jam concert, authorities said. In addition, at least 50 people were arrested by police for underage drinking at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford, Connecticut on Friday evening, July 21.
Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley told Hartford Courant that people were "tailgating, partying and excessive alcohol consumption was extremely prevalent." Several ambulances were called in to rush dozens of concertgoers to a number of local hospitals for emergency medical treatment.
1:2 HPD has made a high number of Underage Drinking Referrals. I'm told there was an extraordinary number of EMS transports of severe ETOH. pic.twitter.com/22oqv5OCUk
— D/C Foley (@LtFoley) 22 Juli 2017
The number of people taken to hospital on Friday night was more than average at typical city concerts. "A 'typical' concert is around 20-30 transports. 60 would be very bad," Foley shared. "We had 70 once and 90 last night. It depends on the act that is in town and the fan base age."
"Drug use [was] a concern, but not as prevalent," Foley told BuzzFeed. "Heat also played a role--in the 90's, hot cars in hot parking lots, no shade." Officials claimed that 21,000 people attended the event. Besides Chance the Rapper, KYLE, PnB Rock and ANoyd were performing that night.
