“I Taped It to My Thigh”: Festival-Goers Reveal the Wildest Place They’ve Hidden Vapes and Nicotine Pouches to Beat Security

Festival season is famous for unforgettable music, muddy fields, and long queues at the entrance. But according to a new survey, plenty of festival-goers are arriving with another mission: finding creative ways to get their favourite items through security.

From hiding vapes in dreadlocks to concealing alcohol inside loaves of bread, a survey of 2,000 UK adults has uncovered the extraordinary lengths people have gone to in an attempt to beat festival bag checks.

And while some hiding places are exactly where you'd expect, others are so bizarre they sound like something out of a comedy sketch.

The survey found that 18% of UK adults admit they have sneaked items that weren't normally allowed into a festival, such as alcohol, vapes or nicotine pouches.

Younger adults were by far the biggest offenders.

• 30% of Gen Z admitted to smuggling items
• 28% of millennials
• 12% of Gen X
• 6% Baby Boomers

With almost one in three Gen Z respondents admitting they've smuggled items into a festival, it's clear that creativity doesn't stop at choosing fancy dress.

Not every festival-goer opted for elaborate disguises.

The most common hiding places were surprisingly practical, with underwear, bras and shoes topping the list.

Most Common Hiding Places

When asked exactly where they'd hidden prohibited items, respondents shared hundreds of answers ranging from ingenious to completely unhinged.

Among the strangest hiding spots were:

• Inside thick dreadlocks
• Under a wig
• Hidden inside a loaf of bread
• Inside crisp packets
• In sealed soft drink bottles
• Inside a folded camping chair
• Hidden inside a rolled-up tent
• Beneath a baby's blanket in a buggy
• Inside a toddler's toy drum
• Inside a stepdaughter's wheelchair
• Wrapped inside tampon boxes
• Hidden up a tree before entering the festival

Some respondents were impressively honest.

One admitted:

"I taped it to my thigh."

Another got creative with:

"Inside a toddler's toy drum."

Others kept it short and sweet with responses like:

"Under a wig."

"Inside a loaf of bread."

"In my hair."

While many respondents carefully planned elaborate hiding places, a few claimed they relied on confidence instead.

One person answered:

"In plain sight!"

Perhaps the boldest response came from someone who said:

"I walked in carrying a keg of beer."

Festival organisers often restrict what attendees can bring through the gates, particularly outside alcohol and certain other items.

Whether it's to avoid paying festival prices or simply to bring their preferred products with them, many attendees clearly look for inventive ways around those restrictions.

The survey suggests that while some people rely on obvious hiding spots like shoes or underwear, others are willing to think far outside the box.

Although many of these responses are amusing, it's always worth remembering that every festival has different entry policies.

Attempting to bring prohibited items into an event could result in them being confiscated or, in some cases, being refused entry altogether.

Before heading to your next festival, check the organiser's official list of permitted and prohibited items so you know exactly what you can bring through the gates