Buying drinks at huge outdoor concerts, or the Kentucky Derby, can get expensive. You'll be there all day, and at $8 a drink... well they might as well be using a gun. So why not sneak in your own supply of delicious whiskey, vodka, mixed drinks, wine or... whatever else you want?*
This is how you sneak booze into the Derby infield or any other concert venue that allows you to bring in a cooler. Simple, easy, and MacGyver-approved.
What you'll need:
- Rolling cooler
- Soldering iron or a stove and a large nail
- Utility knife or exacto blade
- Ziploc bags (quart and gallon size)
- Up to (approximately) half a gallon of your favorite adult beverage
*This is for the fun and enjoyable sneaking of booze into a place where people are already drinking.
If you use this instructable for evil, like smuggling meth, or trying to hurt people in a public place, then you're a bad person and I hope you trip and fall on a pile of razor blades.
This is how you sneak booze into the Derby infield or any other concert venue that allows you to bring in a cooler. Simple, easy, and MacGyver-approved.
What you'll need:
- Rolling cooler
- Soldering iron or a stove and a large nail
- Utility knife or exacto blade
- Ziploc bags (quart and gallon size)
- Up to (approximately) half a gallon of your favorite adult beverage
*This is for the fun and enjoyable sneaking of booze into a place where people are already drinking.
If you use this instructable for evil, like smuggling meth, or trying to hurt people in a public place, then you're a bad person and I hope you trip and fall on a pile of razor blades.
Step 1: 1 - Find a cooler!
Step 1 - find a cooler!
The easiest way to do this is to find a cheap rolling cooler in a friend's garage or on craigslist. I found an igloo polar express (or some stupid name) for $15.
Yes, the first google image search that comes up is from a police auction site...
The easiest way to do this is to find a cheap rolling cooler in a friend's garage or on craigslist. I found an igloo polar express (or some stupid name) for $15.
Yes, the first google image search that comes up is from a police auction site...
Step 2: The honey hole
The best part about buying a cooler used is that the bottom is already scratched up. This does you a favor in camouflaging the cuts you'll make in the bottom of the cooler.
Flip the cooler over and note the most scratched up parts.
Using an exacto blade, utility knife, or other razor blade with a handle, cut into the outer shell through about the middle of the scratched parts. If you just use a knife the gap might be just a little too big.
A) Be careful not to cut your finger off. If you cut your finger off you're gonna have a bad time.
B) The cut doesn't have to be deep, but try to make the cut straight.
C) Have patience. Go slow. Be careful. Win.
Flip the cooler over and note the most scratched up parts.
Using an exacto blade, utility knife, or other razor blade with a handle, cut into the outer shell through about the middle of the scratched parts. If you just use a knife the gap might be just a little too big.
A) Be careful not to cut your finger off. If you cut your finger off you're gonna have a bad time.
B) The cut doesn't have to be deep, but try to make the cut straight.
C) Have patience. Go slow. Be careful. Win.
Step 3: Hollow Man...
Pull the bottom part off (it should pop up easily) and behold the glory of spray foam insulation!
Using a wide-blade knife, chunk of metal with a flat bottom.... or something spatula-like, start taking chunks of the foam out of the bottom of the cooler. Be careful how much gusto you put into this- eventually you'll hit the inside liner of the cooler. If you break the inside liner you're gonna have a bad time.
To boost space, carve as far into the space between the inner liner and outside shell as you can, around corners or whatever.
Chances are you're going to have a cavity that is 1" deep. That's not going to look like a lot, but 1"X12"X12" = 144 cubic inches = 2.3 liters, more than a handle of your favorite brown liquor, or a growler of beer, or 3 bottles of wine. Math is badass.
At this point you can test how much room you have by filling a ziploc with water. Using an empy wine bottle (0.75L, the same size as a regular bottle of liquor from the store) see how many bottles you can fit in there and still fit the lid on easily.
The ziplocs will let your beverage conform to the room available. Science!
Using a wide-blade knife, chunk of metal with a flat bottom.... or something spatula-like, start taking chunks of the foam out of the bottom of the cooler. Be careful how much gusto you put into this- eventually you'll hit the inside liner of the cooler. If you break the inside liner you're gonna have a bad time.
To boost space, carve as far into the space between the inner liner and outside shell as you can, around corners or whatever.
Chances are you're going to have a cavity that is 1" deep. That's not going to look like a lot, but 1"X12"X12" = 144 cubic inches = 2.3 liters, more than a handle of your favorite brown liquor, or a growler of beer, or 3 bottles of wine. Math is badass.
At this point you can test how much room you have by filling a ziploc with water. Using an empy wine bottle (0.75L, the same size as a regular bottle of liquor from the store) see how many bottles you can fit in there and still fit the lid on easily.
The ziplocs will let your beverage conform to the room available. Science!
Step 4: Load it up
Next, pour your favorite adult beverage into several quart-sized ziploc bags. Fill them each about 1/3 full and place 2 or 3 inside a gallon sized ziploc.
Why? If you make your whole day depend on one single ziploc bag, there's a very real possibility that you'll wind up with a cooler dripping bourbon out on the ground when you open it up, and friends that don't want to talk to you ever again.
If you divide your supply into quarts, and one of the quarts leak, then it's still in the gallon bag. It also makes it easier to shift the liquor around to get the best fit.
If you're attempting this with beer... ugh... well first, why are you drinking beer like a little girl? Whiskey is for men with hairy chests, and it's refreshing on a hot day with some ice, which you need for the cooler, remember?
Second, if you think you're going to do this with beer, you have to do everything from this step onwards within about an hour of expecting to open the bags again. And at that, I'm just guessing. Chances are beer will end in diaster. Just sayin'.
Why? If you make your whole day depend on one single ziploc bag, there's a very real possibility that you'll wind up with a cooler dripping bourbon out on the ground when you open it up, and friends that don't want to talk to you ever again.
If you divide your supply into quarts, and one of the quarts leak, then it's still in the gallon bag. It also makes it easier to shift the liquor around to get the best fit.
If you're attempting this with beer... ugh... well first, why are you drinking beer like a little girl? Whiskey is for men with hairy chests, and it's refreshing on a hot day with some ice, which you need for the cooler, remember?
Second, if you think you're going to do this with beer, you have to do everything from this step onwards within about an hour of expecting to open the bags again. And at that, I'm just guessing. Chances are beer will end in diaster. Just sayin'.
Step 5: Cute baby seal
At this point you can, if you want, put a layer of wax paper over the ziploc bags and try to superglue the bottom piece back in a few spots before you melt it back on. I didn't try this, but if your cooler has very thin walls or it's making your nervous, then feel free to do this. The paper will help keep you from having glue seepage mess up your ziplocs. But, not completely necessary, either.
Next set the piece you cut out back into the hole.
Take your soldering iron on low (or repeatedly heating a large nail over a stove or something), and melt the plastic around where you cut back together. This is going to be a pretty superficial seal, but should still work.
Using just the soldering iron alone worked just fine for us, and there wasn't any plastic stickage. BUT, in case you end up having problems you might be able to use waxpaper or parchment paper as a non-stick barrier to melt the plastic back. But honestly, just a soldering iron worked just fine.
Do this in a well-ventilated area.... or get cancer, it's up to you, really.
BE SURE leave one corner open, even if just a 1/4" gap. It won't be enough to notice, and makes getting your bounty out again very easy.
Next set the piece you cut out back into the hole.
Take your soldering iron on low (or repeatedly heating a large nail over a stove or something), and melt the plastic around where you cut back together. This is going to be a pretty superficial seal, but should still work.
Using just the soldering iron alone worked just fine for us, and there wasn't any plastic stickage. BUT, in case you end up having problems you might be able to use waxpaper or parchment paper as a non-stick barrier to melt the plastic back. But honestly, just a soldering iron worked just fine.
Do this in a well-ventilated area.... or get cancer, it's up to you, really.
BE SURE leave one corner open, even if just a 1/4" gap. It won't be enough to notice, and makes getting your bounty out again very easy.
Step 6: Test and Go
Load your cooler up and give it a couple shakes. Make sure the whole bottom part isn't going to pop out. Be a little rough on it- you'd rather fix this at home now than when you're 4th in line to get in and a rent-a-cop is standing right there.
If you don't have any problems, you're good to go. Throw in your ice and head to the event.
Don't forget your vodka-soaked iceberg lettuce.... or I guess a watermelon injected with vodka would work much better.
If you don't have any problems, you're good to go. Throw in your ice and head to the event.
Don't forget your vodka-soaked iceberg lettuce.... or I guess a watermelon injected with vodka would work much better.
Step 7: Like a Boss
Walk up to the rent-a-cop like a boss. Chat with him or her, looking them in the eye and being cordial. After all, this kind person is going to save you $60 on booze, remember? They're part of the game. Open your cooler for them - offer them a sandwich! Why not?
The last place they're going to want to look is underneath your cooler, and even if they did, it will take the trained eye of someone making more than $12/hr to see the seal now that you've gently scuffed the bottom up a bit on the walk to the gates.
Find you and your friends a spot to set up camp. Get out your chairs and blankets and sunblock. Get comfy, you're going to be there all day.
...and when the mood strikes, get a friend to help you lift the cooler up and have another person use a car key to pop the bottom open. Your cooler will pay out like a slot machine and everyone sitting around you will probably get a lot friendlier. But hey, you have a whole handle to drink, what's the rush?
The last place they're going to want to look is underneath your cooler, and even if they did, it will take the trained eye of someone making more than $12/hr to see the seal now that you've gently scuffed the bottom up a bit on the walk to the gates.
Find you and your friends a spot to set up camp. Get out your chairs and blankets and sunblock. Get comfy, you're going to be there all day.
...and when the mood strikes, get a friend to help you lift the cooler up and have another person use a car key to pop the bottom open. Your cooler will pay out like a slot machine and everyone sitting around you will probably get a lot friendlier. But hey, you have a whole handle to drink, what's the rush?
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I have a couple with full-length zippers that can each swallow a 6-pack along with the chair, though a couple would be revealed by even a cursory inspection. But how often do you see security checking camp chairs?
No one pays ANY attention to gimps so if you can beg borrow or steal a wheelchair, wheelscooter or a walker the person USING the "handicapped aid" will be pretty much the shoo-in for carrying yer contraband. I am always the designated carrier.
Also some places--like the Saratoga Racetrack (flat track) have BANNED the use of hardsided coolers AND glass containers. SPAC (can you tell I live in NY???) will check almost everywhere for contraband at some shows--Dave Matthews Band etc---but not others. AND they make you sit in a PLAY PEN if you buy the over priced beer and wine--the hardest stuff they sell. This is to protect the kiddies--like the kiddies don't ASK why Daddy is confined inside a fence!!!!
Now--back to breaking and entering. Has anyone considered using the HARD SIDED COOLER BRICKS? I dunno what is in there but since they are sooo cheap surely emptying a few out and either using zip bags inside and just chucking them in the cooler OR after cleaning using them as a bottle and finding some way to reseal them---no one is looking at them as they are a normal part of cooler useage and are translucent plastic. IF anyone sees you remove them they will think nothing of it just be discrete about pouring them.
Also there is a product called the BEER BRA---you figure out how THAT one is made!
And in my younger and wilder days I was known for having a leather bag made like the back of a lute--if you stuffed a few T shirts on the outside of the bag and then filled it with a few bottles and other contraband--ya know that stuff is sooo much SMALLER---and by slipping the strap around my neck with the bag facing OUT I was able to waddle into many an event as a heavily pregnant woman. Even passed a few "pat downs" at the old Nassau Coliseum,---a place just slightly less paranoid about security than Alcatraz in it's time. Course this was easier in the winter months but surely a clever woman could come up with a "modest" maternity blouse and then change into real summer clothes in the ladies room.
Now--how about a FLASK WALKER??? Now THERES an idea!!!!!!
I hope this inspires.
if you make this, please tell me. ( and of course make an "ible)
1) the depth of the storage place is only about 1", which is why we can't fill the ziplocs too full - if they are too thick in the middle you can't fit them in. So you'd need multiple bags filled part way.
2) The wine.... so, if you drink lots of box wine and save the bladders - not a bad idea, btw, this isn't a problem. We were doing this in about 2 days, so the prospect of drinking 3 boxes of wine between 3 of us on the planning end (before we drove down to Louisville) sounded like hangover city, and would have added another $60 to our costs, assuming we got 3 or 4 bags.
So this is a good idea, and requires more long-term planning!
Awesome quote
For a college football game, where they had access to the site, they just hid the booze inside the day before... ;)
http://digitalniccotine.blogspot.com/2006/05/greatest-kentucky-derby-booze-sneak.html
I tried to freeze my alcohol and take it in AS ICE CUBES but for some reason it didn't work... just kidding.
How about using those SOFT coolers? They usually have a removable shell so you can clean it. If you just load some baggies around the sides between that and the bag walls, and then fill the cooler with the mixers (for the rented kids - optional), that might work...
Or take an aquarium with a fake fish in vodka and say that you couldn't find a sitter...
The summer is upon us with festivals galore to inspire! Thanks for kicking it off!
Good one!
My oldest trick:
put a large bag of ice on top of everything in the cooler. so , it seems you are hiding something.
inside the ice bag, its hollowed out & contains a 5th Liquor bottle.
when you set it down , and the Gate Hawks spot the covering ice bag, be helpful & pick it up so they can inspect most easily!! you will fly thru the gate.
I NEVER got caught.
Mr. Steve
not to mention the hip flash or pint bottle ace bandaged in the hollow of your calf.
the concave back nestles securly.
This is a great idea on so many levels.