T in the Park bosses have won consent to open a licensed supermarket at this summer’s festival.
Organisers believe the superstore which is a first for the 21-year-old festival will increase safety because campers will no longer have to wander off-site to get supplies.
The shop was approved by councillors as part of the festival’s all-important alcohol licence but the store’s opening hours were restricted due to concerns from police it could encourage “impulse buying and binge drinking”.
Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing board heard there will be 17 bars at the festival’s new home, in the grounds of Strathallan Castle.
Attempts will be put in place to limit the amount of alcohol people can buy over the weekend, members were told.
Catering boss Paul Grime said campers could buy up to 24 cans per day, although he accepted it was “feasible” people could buy more if they visited different bars.
Councillor Willie Wilson said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous that the daily amount of alcohol people were restricted to is the equivalent of twice the recommended weekly alcohol consumption for an average adult male.”
Mr Grime said the Challenge 25 programme would be “robustly enforced” by staff at the site.
“If you look like you are under 25 and you don’t have ID on you, then you won’t get served alcohol,” he said. “This will be regulated to the best of our collective ability.”
The board was also told anyone who appeared inebriated would also be refused drink.
It further emerged that the tokens payment system the festival has used since it began in the mid-1990s has been scrapped. All bars will now accept cash, in an effort to cut down on queuing time and complaints, Mr Grime said.
Promoter DF Concerts is also in talks with Perth and Kinross Council about creating an alcohol-free campsite area at future festivals.
The show will be held over the weekend of July 10-12.