President Lula Signs Decrees to Regulate Event Tickets and Mandate Free Water

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed two decrees on Monday, October 31, aimed at regulating the sale of event tickets and ensuring public health at large gatherings. The new rules will take effect in 30 days. One decree mandates that events with more than 1,000 people must provide free drinking water or water fountains. This measure follows the death of a 23 year old fan due to dehydration during a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro. The decree also allows attendees to bring their own water bottles into events and requires that free water points be easily accessible.

The second decree targets digital scalping by regulating the online sale and transfer of tickets for festivals, congresses, fairs, and shows. It requires official ticket sellers to implement measures to prevent mass automated purchases by bots and scripts. The rules demand greater transparency, including the clear disclosure of total prices and fees from the start of the purchase process. Additionally, the decree prohibits the automatic inclusion of additional services without consent and requires that the original face value of a ticket be declared on resale platforms.

Consumer protections are expanded under the new rules to include the free transfer of ticket ownership through official platforms and a clear channel for exercising the right of withdrawal. In the event of cancellation or significant alteration, consumers may choose between a new date, credit for future use, or a full refund including fees. The decree also strengthens half price ticket laws by prohibiting artificial limits on their availability and ensuring that fees do not negate the discount. During the signing ceremony, which included representatives from various pop music fan clubs, President Lula described the need for a decree to guarantee water as a shame, while Minister Guilherme Boulos referred to the president as the president of the fandoms.