Safety in the Social Scene

For many people, attending cafes, nightclubs, bars and other public venues is a regular part of their social routine. By considering a number of simple personal safety strategies these outings can be both enjoyable and safe.

Alcohol

Consumption of alcoholic drinks, and/or the use of drugs, will affect your judgement, bodily responses and awareness of surroundings. This, in turn, may dull your instincts and reduce your awareness of your own safety and ability to control and react to situations. The way an individual responds to alcohol depends on a number of factors including:

• amount of alcohol consumed;
• rate of consumption;
• size and weight of the individual;
• gender;
• physical fitness; and
• state of health.

It is important to realise that whether alcohol or drugs affect you, only TIME can sober you up. Food, coffee, a cold shower, fresh air, vomiting etc. DOES NOT WORK.

Tips for safer drinking There are a number of options available to assist you in making social occasions involving alcohol as safe as possible:

• plan ahead how many drinks you will have and keep to the plan by monitoring your drinking;

• plan how you and your friends will get home safely, e.g. taxi, friend’s etc.;

• eat before and during drinking to fill your stomach and reduce the amount that you drink. Avoid salty food, as this will make you thirsty;

• alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks;

• avoid shouts — drink at your own pace;

• avoid mixing drinks;

• finish each drink before you have another — avoid top-ups; and

• get involved in other activities, e.g. dancing or playing pool;  

Drugs

Mixing alcohol and drugs (whether they are prescription or non-prescription) is a dangerous combination. Possible side effects include loss of co-ordination, inability to concentrate, loss of inhibitions, amnesia, ulcers, coma and death.

As with alcohol, drugs can cause a wide range of responses, depending on the type of drug being used, e.g. sedative, analgesics, benzodiazepines etc.  

Spiked Drinks

The use of recreational or prescription drugs to commit sexual assault and rape is not a new phenomena. While alcohol remains the most common method of spiking drinks, the use of drugs to spike alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, is becoming increasingly prevalent.

The popularity of these drugs for would-be offenders is easily understood; they are readily concealed, relatively inexpensive and take effect quickly. They can be easily mixed with other drinks because the substances are often odourless, tasteless and colourless. The direct effect of such drugs is that the victim will often be left with little or no memory of the events that have occurred soon after taking the drug. This may leave them extremely vulnerable and confused.  

Preventative Strategies

There are a number of simple options available to reduce the likelihood of having your drink spiked:

• Take your own drinks to parties;
• Avoid leaving drinks unattended — if you do, discard them upon your return;
  
• Only accept drinks from trusted people. Watch waiters, waitresses or bartenders make your drink;
  
• If someone offers to buy you a drink, go up to the bar with that person and accept the drink there;
  
• Do not accept an open container of drink from anyone;
  
• Do not drink from a container that is being passed around or is used for mixed drinks such as punch;
  
• Watch your friends as well as anyone acting suspiciously. If a friend appears to become intoxicated after a disproportionate amount of time, take them to a safe place immediately; and
  
• Consider designating a trusted person to stay sober.

Remember, if you start to feel very drunk in a disproportionate amount of time to the amount of drinks that you have consumed, your drink may have been spiked. Tell your friend(s), security or the bar manager quickly — waiting even a few minutes may put yourself in danger.    

Intoxicated Friend

If you are out with a friend who has had too much to drink, be aware that their reasoning, instincts and awareness of their own safety may be unsound. It may well be left up to you to assist in preserving their safety.

Utilise the Tips for Safer Drinking previously outlined to preserve not only your own safety, but that of your friends.  

Persistent Admirer

If you are in a nightclub or other social setting and someone is paying you unwanted attention, be assertive in telling them to leave you alone. If your wishes are disregarded there are a range of options available to deter your persistent admirer.

Embarrassment - consider drawing attention to your admirer’s unwanted behaviour by telling them in an overly-loud voice to leave you alone and that you are not interested in them. Ensure you speak loudly enough for everyone around you to hear.

Relocation - consider moving to another area or joining a group of people.

Assistance - if your admirer remains persistent bring their behaviour to the attention of a friend or someone in authority, for example a bar manager or security person, to gain assistance in stopping the unwanted behaviour.

Confrontations

Alcohol and emotions don’t always mix well. While physical confrontations are not common, the chance of them occurring increases in social settings (Criminal Justice Commission Report 1997, Assault in Queensland).  

If you are involved in, or witness to, a situation that may result in a physical confrontation, there are a number of options available to attempt to prevent, or stop, such an incident.

Prior to Confrontation

Distraction - attempt to involve the conflicting parties in other activities.

Relocation - attempt to place physical distance between the parties involved to allow the situation to ‘cool down’.

Ruse - if physical confrontation is imminent consider creating the impression that someone in authority is coming, e.g. "Here comes security/the police", etc.

Seek assistance - inform persons in authority, e.g. security, management, police, of the incident to gain assistance in defusing the situation.  

During Confrontation

Ruse - as previously mentioned.

Seek assistance - as previously mentioned.

Directly intervene - this is a valid option only in situations where you feel comfortable and capable of intervening in an effective manner. There may be others with you who can also assist in this situation.

Note: If you decide to provide assistance by directly intervening you should be aware of the risk that your personal safety may be threatened. Any force used should be reasonably necessary in the circumstances.