Does a clear bag policy actually have a detrimental effect on event security?
Let’s talk about safety and security around the clear bag policy at The O2 for the Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine Tour.
All live events have bag policies. What you can or can’t take into the venue with you. It’s part of life now. Since a number of terror-related incidents in the past, bags have become a suspicious part of society. I completely get it. It’s important. It’s necessary.
But at what point does a policy become an issue in itself?
A few weeks before Ariana took to the stage for her 10-night run in London, an email update was sent to ticket holders about a bag policy that would be in force for the shows.
“In order to provide the smoothest entry and safest experience for everyone in attendance, this tour will operate under a clear-bag-only policy for all ticketed attendees.”
Each ticketholder may carry one clear bag OR a resealable clear freezer/zip-lock bag.
Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive with only essential items.
All bags must be 100% clear (no colour tints, prints or patterns. Small logos are permitted)
All bags must be made from clear plastic, vinyl or PVC
Bags must not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” (30cm x 15cm x 30cm)
If using a clear freezer/zip-lock bag, this must be medium size (30cm x 26cm) or smaller.
All belongings must be individually placed in your clear bag. Items cannot be placed in additional bags within.
Medical, accessibility, parent/child-care related bags or other essential bags will be permitted after venue security inspects them, in accordance with venue policy
Smoothest entry and safest experience? The venue has high-tech scanners and bag searching in operation, so why the clear bags? Will they manually inspect each bag at entry, or are they assuming a high percentage of attendees won't bring a bag at all?
The O2 is out on a limb on the banks of the Thames, accessed fairly easily by public transport. The underground takes you directly into the heart of the city in a few minutes.
Most people heading to the arena will use public transport.
Ariana’s fanbase is predominantly young women and the LGBTQ+ community. These groups are highly vulnerable when travelling alone, at night, or in unfamiliar places. London public transport has security measures, but they can only protect you so far. We hear so many horror stories about street crime and are urged to protect ourselves as best we can, keeping valuables and mobile phones out of view and staying alert at all times.
Is it not then counterproductive to have these ticket holders travelling from far and wide with either a bag with all its contents clearly on show to everyone within eyeshot or literally nothing but their mobile phone and lip gloss?
Doesn't that potentially make them more vulnerable by putting their belongings on display? Your keys. Your purse. Your ID documents.
Doesn't it create a greater risk if that person has nothing on them but their phone? No alternative payment methods. No ID. No personal care.
Is having a clear bag actually any safer than a smaller-sized regular bag?
Whichever arena you visit, you'll be security checked. Each has its own policies and lists of prohibited items. Some are stricter than others. Something which might be permitted at one venue isn’t permitted at another. You can get caught out.
Let's face it, in reality, we all know you can’t take a weapon. Drugs. Illegal substances. Alcohol. We all know that you can’t take a professional camera without a photography pass. We all know the obvious.
It’s not unusual to see people have perfume confiscated at the door, as it’s in a glass bottle. Or a bottle of water that isn’t sealed. That sign you’ve been making at home that’s bigger than the arena’s permitted size.
The Summer of 2026 forced many venues, including outdoor stadiums and festivals, to reconsider some of their policies because of multiple heatwaves and weather alerts. Confusion arose over drinks: sealed bottles, empty crushable bottles, reusable cups, Stanley cups, and free water taps. Add to that portable electronic fans and sun cream in bottles or tubes over 100ml or aerosol sprays, and there was lots of confusion.
Any policy that is written, including weather updates and changes, should be clearly communicated to the staff conducting the security searches, but it’s also very helpful to have signage up outside the venue to double-check before you approach. Yes, you’ll likely find the information on the venue’s website, but extra clarity can go a long way.
Regardless of the policies, who should the emphasis be on for policy adherence? That security firewall is by far the staff doing the security checks. Whether it’s manual or a high-tech scanner, it is their responsibility to make sure the rules are followed.
A quick unzip and peek into the top of a bag is not a security search. A manual bag search should be thorough.
So, back to this Ariana Grande residency. The O2 has scanners at the doors. You don’t need to empty your pockets or open your bags – you simply move through the scanner, and if the supervisors are alerted to anything unusual, you’ll be asked to step to one side for an additional manual check.
So why the clear bags? What additional benefit does this bring to the security procedure? If you can see through my regular bag with your walkthrough scanner, what difference does a clear bag make for this event?
There was no noticeable increase in visual or manual checks.
The process wasn’t noticeably quicker than usual.
The usual scanners were still in use.
In a small venue doing manual checks, looking into a clear bag from multiple angles is likely very efficient for assessing and verifying the contents. In a venue of this magnitude, is it not just a gimmick? Or does it make you question the validity of the electronic scanning equipment?
The only noticeable difference to the public was seeing young people carrying only their mobile phone or, if they did have any personal items with them, keeping them on clear display for everyone around them. Within the arena building, you might think you are relatively safe, but what about out on the street, on the underground, on a bus, or in an Uber?
What about anyone who needs to carry sanitary products or medical items they prefer to keep private?
Personally, as a ticket holder, I wasn’t bothered. I never go far without some kind of bag attached to my wheelchair. I need to carry medication. I always carry a power bank and charger cables in case of an emergency. Wet wipes. Plasters, tapes, and dressings. Things you might only need once in a while but still consider essentials. Am I bothered that people could see them? No, not really. I wasn’t on my own, so I didn’t feel that level of vulnerability. I use the pockets on my jeans a lot for my phone, bank cards, and such, so there was no difference.
If it had been my wife out with her girlfriends, I would have felt differently.
So my question is: does a clear bag policy actually hurt event security? Does it put ticketholders in a more vulnerable position? Does it actually benefit venue security? Or is it just a white elephant?