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Every time you head out to a bar or club for an evening, you put yourself at risk of alcohol-related harm as a result of your drinking, or the drinking of others. While your safest option is to abstain from drinking and avoid places where people are being served liquor, there are ways to have a safe night out where alcohol is involved. By making informed decisions about where you’re going to go, and by paying attention to your surroundings after you get there, you can minimize the risk of alcohol-related harms to yourself and your friends.
Deciding where to go
When you’re deciding which bars or clubs to hit, opt for the places that offer the least risks. If you’re not sure what to watch out for, keep in mind that incidents of aggression, assault and drunk driving are most often associated with places that put little effort into ambience and ignore standard serving and safety practices.
Nearly one in 10 British Columbians claims they’ve done themselves damage—physically, socially, financially or legally—while drinking. And 35% of people in the province say they’ve suffered physically or emotionally from someone else’s alcohol use. Types of alcohol-related harms:
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It’s best to avoid bars and clubs that:
are located near clusters of other
alcohol-serving establishments and liquor outlets
stay open for extended hours and allow over-crowding
have happy hours and two-for-one drink specials
serve customers who are clearly intoxicated
provide low-quality entertainment
have aggressive, poorly-trained security and service staff
lack telephones and safe-ride transportation options
have blocked exits and pathways, as well as poor interior and exterior lighting
feature uncomfortable furniture and noise levels
have dark, dirty washroom areas
What to look for in a bar or club:
Servers and staff
Servers that cut people off when • they’ve had too much to drink reduce the chances of drunk individuals starting fights or driving home intoxicated
Staff trained to diffuse conflict and manage aggressive behaviour can stop a frustrating situation from becoming a full-on fist fight.
Environment
Bars and clubs with multiple floors (as opposed to a single floor) make it easier for customers to see and be seen by staff in the event a conflict erupts in a crowd.
Clear pathways and exits make it easier for people to move through an establishment without bumping into others and potentially triggering a disruption.
Comfortable lighting, seating, sound and ventilation keep patrons calmer and less likely to become frustrated.
Sufficient, well-lit washrooms reduce patrons’ risk of becoming victims of assault and other crimes.
Tempered glassware is safer and less likely to be broken and used as weapons in a bar fight.
Places that offer free soft drinks or water are linked to fewer drunk driving charges and fewer cases of public intoxication.
Where food is available, there tends to be less aggressive patronage and fewer incidents of violent behavior.
Did you know…
In 2004, 16 bars in Vancouver were fined a total of $68,000 and were closed for 81 days combined for overcrowding, serving intoxicated customers, failing to check ID and staff drinking on the job.
In 2004, 2,175 people in BC were injured or killed in alcohol-related vehicle accidents.
Entertainment
In places featuring varied, high-quality entertainment, there are fewer incidents of boredom, frustration and intoxication.
Door security
Trained door staff know how to diffuse conflict before it erupts, and are skilled at behaviour management.
Door staff who regularly check identification are more likely to work for bars or clubs that value both the law and customers.
Where security cameras are present, there tends to be less misconduct and violence outside the establishment.
Outdoor environment
Fully-lit outdoor areas deter people from committing crimes, loitering or engaging in disorderly behaviour, while allowing patrons to see more of their surroundings and feel safer when they’re heading home.
When a bar or club has clean, clear sidewalk space and queuing areas, patrons are less likely to suffer falls and injuries related to line-ups and mobility problems.
Transportation options
Safe-ride services offered in bars and clubs have proven successful in decreasing alcohol-related vehicle accidents.
Establishments that have accessible telephones and taxi services, or are close to major bus routes, encourage crowds to disperse quicker. What to do if you or someone you know is experiencing a problem with alcohol
What to do if you or someone you know is experiencing a problem with alcohol
For information on treatment options and resources throughout BC, call the Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service at 1–800–663–1441. In Greater Vancouver, call 604–660–9382.
For information on ways to help yourself with a substance use problem, see the “Tips” section of the Here to Help website: www.heretohelp.bc.ca. The website also features detailed information on substances and mental health disorders.
You can also find information on a wide variety of substance use issues on the Centre for Addictions Research of BC website: www.carbc.ca.
