Food & Drinks Policy

Food & Drink Policy

Make It Personal Events
A trading name of Barretts Business Group Ltd

Policy Status: Current
Applies To: All Make It Personal Events events and venues
Policy Owner: Barretts Business Group Ltd

1. Purpose

This policy sets out the rules regarding food and drink brought into events operated by Make It Personal Events, a trading name of Barretts Business Group Ltd.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety, security and enjoyment of all guests, staff, contractors, traders and other persons attending our events, while also providing reasonable consideration for guests with genuine medical requirements.

2. Outside Food and Drink

Unless specifically authorised by Make It Personal Events in advance, guests are not permitted to bring outside food or drinks into our event venues.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Food purchased from outside the event;

  • Takeaway food;

  • Alcoholic beverages;

  • Soft drinks, energy drinks and other beverages;

  • Homemade food or drinks;

  • Food or drinks purchased from another venue or business; and

  • Any other consumable items intended to be eaten or consumed within the event.

Where food and drink vendors are operating at an event, guests are expected to purchase and consume food and drinks from the authorised event traders or other facilities provided by the event.

Make It Personal Events reserves the right to refuse entry to, or request the removal of, unauthorised food and drinks brought onto the event site.

3. Medical Allergies, Intolerances and Dietary Requirements

Make It Personal Events recognises that some guests may have severe food allergies, medically diagnosed food intolerances or other medical conditions which may require them to carry or consume specific food or drink.

We will consider requests relating to genuine medical requirements in line with our Equality and Diversity Policy and applicable equality legislation.

However, an exemption from this policy is not automatically granted because a guest has an allergy, intolerance or dietary preference.

Requests for an exemption must be made in writing prior to attending the event and must include appropriate supporting medical evidence.

Supporting evidence

Where an exemption is requested on medical grounds, the guest may be required to provide:

  1. A written explanation of the requirement and why outside food or drink is necessary; and

  2. A document from a suitably qualified medical professional confirming the relevant medical diagnosis or condition.

The medical evidence should clearly establish the medical need where possible. Make It Personal Events may request further reasonable information where necessary to assess the request.

4. Dietary Preferences

Dietary preferences, lifestyle choices or personal preferences do not automatically qualify for an exemption from the outside food and drink policy.

Examples may include, but are not limited to:

  • Vegetarian or vegan preferences;

  • Religious or cultural dietary preferences;

  • Personal dislikes;

  • Weight-loss or fitness diets; or

  • General preferences for particular brands or foods.

Where reasonably practicable, we encourage guests with dietary requirements to contact the event organiser in advance so that available food options can be discussed.

5. Consideration of Requests

All medical exemption requests will be considered on an individual basis.

Make It Personal Events will seek to balance the needs of the individual with:

  • The safety of other guests and staff;

  • Food hygiene and allergen management;

  • Venue requirements;

  • Event security;

  • The availability of suitable food and drink within the venue;

  • The nature and severity of the medical requirement; and

  • The practicalities of allowing outside food or drink onto the event site.

Approval of an exemption for one event does not automatically mean that an exemption will apply to another event.

6. Approved Exemptions

Where an exemption is approved, Make It Personal Events may impose reasonable conditions regarding what food or drink can be brought onto the site and where it may be consumed.

Guests granted an exemption may be required to:

  • Carry evidence of their approved exemption;

  • Keep their food or drink securely stored;

  • Consume it only in an appropriate designated area where applicable; and

  • Follow any reasonable instructions issued by event staff.

Approval may be withdrawn where the conditions of the exemption are not followed or where circumstances change.

7. Allergens and Cross-Contamination

Guests with severe allergies should be aware that events may contain multiple food vendors and that Make It Personal Events cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Although we expect authorised food traders to comply with applicable food safety and allergen legislation, the event environment may contain allergens brought onto site through authorised food sales, food preparation, consumption or accidental contamination.

Guests with severe allergies should take appropriate precautions and carry any medication or emergency treatment prescribed to them.

8. Alcohol

Guests must not bring their own alcohol onto an event site unless this has been expressly authorised in advance by Make It Personal Events.

Where an event has a licensed bar, all alcohol must be purchased and consumed in accordance with the event's licensing conditions and the instructions of event staff.

Make It Personal Events reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone attempting to bring alcohol onto an event site.

9. Enforcement

Event staff and management are authorised to enforce this policy.

Where a guest attempts to bring unauthorised food or drink into an event, they may be asked to:

  • Remove the item from the venue;

  • Dispose of the item appropriately; or

  • Return it to their vehicle or another suitable location outside the event.

Where a guest refuses to comply, Make It Personal Events reserves the right to refuse entry or remove the individual from the event, subject to applicable law and the event's wider terms and conditions.

10. Equality and Diversity

Make It Personal Events is committed to treating guests fairly and respectfully.

Requests relating to medical conditions, disabilities or other protected characteristics will be considered in accordance with our Equality and Diversity Policy and applicable legislation.

The requirement to provide reasonable supporting evidence is intended to allow Make It Personal Events to properly assess medical exemption requests and does not prevent an individual from making a request.

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically by Barretts Business Group Ltd and may be amended where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, venue requirements, event operations or best practice.

Tyler Barrett - CEO Make It Personal Events
A trading name of Barretts Business Group Ltd