Safer Bars

PROVIDING ADVISORY SERVICES TO:

• Governments (State & Local)
• Local Liquor Accords
• Precinct Liquor Accords
• Licensed premises industry

Bar Guardians provides advisory services on issues concerning alcohol related violence in and around licensed premises.

Bar Guardians’ objective is to provide all stake holders with information and training to assist them with dealing with alcohol related aggression within licensed venues.


WHAT WE DO

Provide advisory services to the hospitality industry, Liquor Accords and Governments on issues concerning alcohol related violence in and around licensed premises.
 

HOW WE DO IT

• We consult to liquor accords on the framework required to address issues and consult to those accords that form part of a Precinct Liquor Accord.
• We have examined the impact of various research studies applied to local situations throughout the world and then apply it to your local situation.
• This may involve discussions various options with transport providers, the police on enforcement issues, the Council on local amenity issues such as the provision of public toilets and the Government on appropriate responses.
• More importantly we facilitate discussion among licensed venues to establish the best way to address local issues. We look at implementing SAFER BARS training in licensed premises and issues such as communication between venues, local banning options for troublesome patrons, environmental design issues that may encourage antisocial behaviour and patron dispersal.
• Finally we assist the licensed premises in training involving security & staff, the introduction of a patrons code of conduct, and a venue’s policies and procedures.
   
   

BAR GUARDIANS IN 2010

In NSW, Bar Guardians were commissioned by the Crime Prevention Division of the Attorney General’s Department and we successfully conducted a trial program of the Safer Bars program in the Rocks area of Sydney.We were also commissioned by the City of Sydney to deliver a number of the Safer Bars program to Local Liquor Accords of: City Central, Surry Hills and Kings Cross.In NSW Bar Guardians conducted the Safer Bars program to almost 300 attendees from 73 licensed premises plus guards from 4 security firms.In Victoria: following lengthy discussions with Responsible Alcohol Victoria we commenced a trial of the Safer Bars program in designated venues in Melbourne.There are a number of other aspects to Bar Guardians “Suite of Products” which includes assisting licensed premises in complying with the requirements of the OLGR/ Communities NSW/ Local Councils in general regulatory matters and more specifically to engrain the key elements of the Safer Bars program. We are now assisting local liquor accords in NSW which are involved in the Precinct Liquor Accords. Our primary focus:

• Risk assessments for licensed premises
• Development of policies and procedures
• Delivery of the Safer Bars training program

Newcastle City Council recently released for exhibition its "Safe Newcastle: Draft alcohol management strategy” for the Newcastle & Hamilton Precinct Liquor Accord. Bar Guardians will be conducting the Safer Bars program to designated venues within the Accord.Funding is available from Communities NSW to assist each Precinct Liquor Accord with measures that can assist in the reduction of alcohol related violence and the Safer Bars program is a “ready to offer” targeted solution.
 

BAR GUARDIANS IN 2011

We will continue working with Local Governments, Local Liquor Accords & Precinct Liquor Accords in NSW and Victoria assisting all stake holders with how to deal with, and the delivery of training, to reduce alcohol related aggression within licensed venues.Bar Guardians will continuing rolling out:

• Risk assessments for licensed premises
• The development of policies and procedures
   

BAR GUARDIANS PRESENTS: The Safer Bars program

The Safer Bars program was developed to reduce risks of problem behaviour & prevent injury in bars & night clubs. It consists of:
 

• Assessing & Reducing Risks of Violence – identify & address environment risks of aggression & other problems
• Safer Bars Training – a 3 hour training program; techniques for managing problem behaviour & reducing risks of injury & legal problems
• Do you know the law - a legal pamphlet illustrating the legal risks of allowing aggression in bars & clubs

SAFER BARS CONDUCTED by BAR GUARDIANS: 

• All trainers conducting the Safer Bars program have obtained TAA Cert IV
• Our trainers have over 30 years experience of conducting OLGR approved RSA
• Includes “Do You Know The Law” brochure
• AQTF compliant
• Certificates issued to venue and all successful candidates

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT SAFER BARS

“At present Safer Bars, a program developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Ontario, Canada, is the only training program that focuses specifically on preventing violence in licensed and club premises and which has been evaluated and made publically available.”

Dr Gillian McIlwain and Professor Ross Homel, Griffith University.
 

Professor Ross Homel:
Foundation Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and Director of the University's Strategic Research Program in the Social and Behavioural Sciences.

See Professor Homel’s document Sustaining a Reduction of Alcohol-Related Harms in the Licensed Environment at the Drinkwise website.