Second Argentinian city bans electronic music events

Argentina’s largest beach resort destination, Mar Del Plata, is the country’s second city to issue a ban on electronic music events.

According to El Marplatense, city mayor Carlos Arroyo announced the ban in an attempt to eradicate drug use in the name of “public health”.

Enforcement attempts of the ban includes a WhatsApp hotline for neighbours to call in any complaints about nearby electronic events.

With international acts like Nina Kraviz, Solomun and Lee Foss due to play in the coming months, parties that are now up in the air, the ban has been criticised by fellow councillors who are calling for more “intelligent” solutions.

Councillor Marcos Gutiérrez said: "Rather than worry about banning, you should be concerned about more active state involvement. We must prevent actions that are negative for the population as a whole."

In April last year, Buenos Aires stopped issuing permits for electronic music festivals following drug-related deaths at Time Warp. In November, the ban nearly lead to the cancellation of a Kraftwerk show in the capital.

Arroyo announced Mar Del Plata’s ban on Tuesday, just over a week after the drug-related death of a 20-year-old girl at a New Year’s party near Rosario.