Freezer Burn Alcohol & Cannabis Policy

Revised: Mar 2025


Purpose 

  1. Managing the safety of our event responsibly is our number one priority. Overconsumption can result in dangerous or unfavourable circumstances for our event volunteers or participants.
  2. Even though alcohol and cannabis are both legal, our event attracts participants who either don’t want to consume or are underage. Our goal is to keep Freezer Burn safe for everyone by managing consumption and limiting exposure to these substances for those who choose not to partake. We are family-friendly.
  3. Clear guidelines can help manage the behavior of all of our participants. Overconsumption can lead to disruptive or negative experiences; we want to promote a positive, enjoyable environment for all attendees. We are guided by the League of Extraordinary Albertans Code of Conduct.
  4. Even though alcohol and cannabis are legal, there are still provincial regulations (like impaired driving, or serving a minor for example) that still need to be followed. 
  5. This policy helps clearly communicate the rules and expectations around consumption and distribution to attendees of legal age.
  6. In case of an emergency (example: someone overconsumes or has an adverse reaction), the policy ensures that there’s a clear plan in place for how to handle the situation, including medical support, Rangers, or other necessary interventions (like Security).
  7. Failure to comply with the Freezer Burn Alcohol & Cannabis Policy can result in your immediate removal from the event and/or bans from future events for individuals and Theme Camps.

Legal Age

  • It is against the law to serve alcohol or cannabis to anyone under the age of 18 in the province of Alberta. 
  • If you are an Individual, Theme Camp, Motorized/ Mutant Vehicle, or Sound Stages and your event has a “bar” where alcohol or cannabis is served or gifted, then the person serving is required to check for valid government identification from the participant being served.
  • Using false identification to consume alcohol or cannabis will be considered an offence and a violation of this policy, which will result in the minor and their guardian(s) being removed from the event
  • All participants will receive a wristband that must be worn all weekend but this is not a substitute for identification. Those under 18 will have a distinctive and different wristband.

Consumption

  • Events, Theme Camps, Motorized/ Mutant Vehicles, and Sound Stages set their own consumption policies within their own spaces. Please respect their rules and comply. 
  • When out of your own space, It is recommended to take measures to minimize the impact on surrounding participants when engaging in alcohol and cannabis activities. 
  • Be mindful of minors around the event. We encourage participants to consume cannabis in your own camp or away from other participants.
  • It is recommended to take measures to prevent other participants from being exposed to second-hand smoke from cannabis consumption (example: don’t smoke in a crowd at a sound stage).​
  • In all cases: Leave No Trace.

Distribution

  • If you are an Individual, or your Theme Camp, Motorized/ Mutant Vehicle or Sound Stage has a “bar” where alcohol or cannabis is given, then the person serving is required to check for valid government identification from the participant being served.
  • ALWAYS disclose the contents of food or drinks that contain alcohol or cannabis before serving to participants 18 years or older.
  • Consumables containing alcohol or cannabis must be physically separated from consumables that do not contain alcohol or cannabis (Example: Brownies containing cannabis should not be on the same tray as brownies that do not contain cannabis).
  • Consumables containing alcohol or cannabis must always be kept out of reach of passerbyers and minors.
  • It is illegal to distribute cannabis for monetary value without the proper permitting from the province of Alberta. 
  • Individuals providing the distribution of Alcohol & Cannabis consumables must be sober.

Storage 

  • Designate a person that is responsible for storage of alcohol or cannabis at your Theme Camp, Motorized / Mutant Vehicle, or Sound Stage.
  • Individuals, Theme Camps, Motorized / Mutant Vehicles, and Sound Stages serving consumables must always store alcohol and cannabis in a secure and LOCKED area. You will be checked for this! Consider purchasing a lockbox or safe to store your alcohol and cannabis.
  • Always securely store personal alcohol and cannabis away and out of sight. Never leave alcohol or cannabis unattended.
  • Always store edible cannabis separately from regular food and drinks. Exercise particular caution with homemade cannabis edibles and make sure to properly label it to be clear that it is not regular food.

Volunteer Expectations

  • Freezer Burn Volunteers are expected to arrive for their volunteer shift sober.
  • Freezer Burn Volunteers are expected to be sober for their full volunteer shift.
  • Volunteers who are not sober on shift will be removed from the shift immediately.
  • Failure to remain sober on shift may result in limitations of volunteer capacities at future events.

Driving under the influence

  • It is illegal to drive impaired and we take this seriously - Zero tolerance. See the Freezer Burn Mutant Vehicle Operation Policy.
  • Do not drive any motorized vehicle after having consumed alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. Alcohol and cannabis can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision with obstacles or participants.
  • Do not get into a motorized vehicle if you suspect the driver has consumed alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. Report to a Ranger to ensure that the driver does not continue driving.

Guidance

  • Avoid mixing substances such as alcohol, cannabis, or other substances. The results can be unpredictable and dangerous.
  • Avoid leaving your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from someone you do not know and trust.
  • Always inquire about what you are being served in gifted food and drinks.
  • Avoid mixing alcohol with energy drinks. This can mask symptoms of intoxication.
  • If you choose to consume cannabis, start with a small amount and wait until you feel the effects before taking more. Edible cannabis products can present unique health and safety risks. It takes longer to feel the effects of cannabis that you ingest compared to cannabis that you inhale. It can take up to four hours to feel the full effects, and consuming more within this time period can increase the risk of adverse effects.

Distress

  • Do not leave someone alone if they seem ill or in distress. Stay with them and immediately call patrolling Rangers for help. Enlist other participants as needed!
  • Freezer Burn works closely with our Medical support team, who can be contacted by anyone with an event radio. 
  • Our Freezer Burn call boxes notify the Ranger Oracle of Emergency or when assistance is needed. Ranger Oracle is located at First Response alongside our Medical team. 
  • If individuals are able to mobilize to Medical or Sanctuary, our team can look out for them and offer a safe space to recover.
  • In the event of a life-threatening emergency, if you have a cell phone CALL 911 and then locate a Ranger right away.