We’re all pretty knowledgable about the link between alcohol and sexual assault but were you aware that there is a shot out there that can prevent such a thing from happening?

The Iberian Rooster, a Florida restaurant, and a South African Hooters made waves in December of 2016 when some signs in the women’s restrooms were posted on the likes of Facebook and Twitter.

“Is your Tinder or Plenty of Fish date not who they said they were on their profile?” the sign reads.“Do you feel unsafe, or even just a little bit weird? We’re here to help. Just go to the bar and order an angel shot.”

If the shot is ordered neat, bartenders know to escort the customer to her vehicle. If ordered with ice, the bartender will call an Uber or Lyft. And, if the customer orders an angel shot with lime, the bartender will call the police.

This trend began in St. Albens, England after staff at The Brickyard posted a sign instructing women who were uncomfortable with their date to ask the bartender for Rachel or Jennifer. These pseudonyms alert the bartender of their discomfort which would then prompt the staff to call for a taxi.

With the rise of dating apps from 2009-2017, there has been a steady increase in cases of rape occurring during the first face-to-face meeting of people who met online. The veil of anonymity provided by the internet emboldens people who dare to take risks they usually wouldn’t. Relationships involving individuals who meet online progress at a much faster rate and along with that comes a whole slew of problems. Online, people tend to flirt or behave in a promiscuous manner that may not necessarily reveal their desire to engage in intimate acts. However, a lack of proper communication between both parties can create situations where the expectations are mismatched and suddenly one becomes a victim while the other takes on a role as the offender.

In this day and age, it is nice to see that bars are taking a step forward to prevent sexual assault and rape. The fact that sexual aggressors use bars as a “staging ground” for selecting, isolating, and even incapacitating their target has become normalized but there seems to be very little action taken by such establishments to create a safe space for their patrons. However these little steps go a long way.

Collective Action for Safe Spaces (CASS) has identified the issue and chosen to address it by implementing a project entitled Safe Bars. The project focuses on teaching people skills for intervening in unwanted sexual aggression. Bar staffers are taught to recognize subtle signs that may indicate discomfort and cover specific strategies for intervening. Bystander intervention techniques include distracting the aggressor and getting involved if given even the slightest hint of physical discomfort as the cost of checking is slim to none but the cost of letting it pass can be fatal. Safe Bars also encourages staff members to share with bar patrons safety messages that encourage respect that let customers know that bar staff are available for help as well as actively promote bars that adopt safety standards. ‘Safe Bar’ certifications are awarded to bars that complete the training.

So far 20 Bars have been credited as Safe Bars and the numbers are only getting better. In September of 2016, Safe Bars received over a hundred requests to set up programs across the United States.

Although there is action that is currently being taken, the movement itself is small and unbeknownst to many. It is our responsibility to encourage this and aim for every bar in the United States to be labeled a safe bar.

Women should never have to experience victim blaming or feel threatened when they’re going out to have a good time. We need more angel shots, more safe bars, and we need to adopt the title of a Rachel or a Jennifer and become the change we wish to see in our generation.

Signing off,
Joanne