You have a right to feel — and be — safe when you go out. We can help.

Everyone’s heard about being harassed, groped, or followed at bars and clubs — maybe it’s happened to you. Staff at Safe Bars establishments have your back. They’ll check in if they think something problematic is happening. And if you ask them for help, they’ll respond.

Do you want to bring Safe Bars to your favorite hangout?

Safe Bars

• Teaches bar staff about how common unwanted sexual aggression is and why it happens,
• Helps bar staff recognize inappropriate sexual behavior,
• Gives bar staff the skills to respond to such behavior safely and appropriately, whether by stepping in or when you ask for help, and
• Shares safety messages that encourage respect and let you know that bar staff are available for help.

Why bars?

Nearly 1 in 5 women are raped in their lifetimes. About half of those who commit sexual assault are under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Unwanted sexual attention, including harassment and groping, is all too common in D.C. area bars and clubs. Sexual aggressors may use these environments to select, isolate, and even incapacitate their targets. But things can be different at Safe Bars.

“I was at 801 [a trained Safe Bar] when a somewhat drunk male patron who I was making friendly conversation with went to reach for something at the bar and put his hand on my stomach and pushed me out of the way. The bartender witnessed this and said, ‘Hey, you should not touch a woman like that. You need to leave.

The bartender told me that he’d seen the same person shove another woman. I really appreciated that he called the patron out. The patron was surprised but apologetic and hopefully it kept him from touching other women that night.”