How to Stay Safe When Clubbing

How to stay safe clubbing!

Whether you are a young man or a young woman at some point you will have thought about your safety when clubbing, and if you haven’t you need to. With knife crime on the increase (especially in the UK) you need to be aware of your safety.

So what can you do?

There are many preventions that you can take to protect yourself when you are out. Needless to say, you shouldn’t really be clubbing under the age of 18 in the UK, as you need to be 18 to drink (different laws in other countries apply!)

How to protect yourself when out and about:

• Don’t go out with a weapon on you of any kind, it is illegal and endangers others and yourself (an attacker could use your own weapon on you in an argument).
• Don’t bring too many personal belongings. For women-have a small handbag with minimum keys (house keys etc) and a small purse. Leave the car keys etc at home. Don’t carry lots of credit cards around and if you have to, make sure it is signed on the back. Keep them to a minimum, as it they are stolen someone could steal your identity. I have had my handbag stolen before in the past in a cloakroom. I paid £1 for the club to look after it and when I returned nearly all of the contents were empty. I was not compensated. Remember: Handing in your belongings to the cloakroom is no guarantee to their safety!! Only hand over coats. Always keep your purse/handbag with you at all times.
• Bring ID. You may look younger (or older!) but you should be asked for ID when entering some clubs or buying drinks. Also, if you get lost and cannot remember who or where you are (i.e. if you are intoxicated) it may help the police or emergency’s services to help you. Never give out your personal details to strangers- at the most give out your mobile number and first name.
• Don’t have a lot of cash on you and don’t carry too many big notes with you. (Many clubs don’t have lots of change to give and the more cash you have on your possession the more likely you are to lose it or to attract unwanted attention!)
• Be with a friend for the evening who you trust, try to go with a group for safety- remember the saying “safety in numbers”. Make sure you all know each other’s mobile numbers before you go out!
• Never walk home alone- Men or women- and if you have to, make sure it is within a well lit area. If you’re not familiar with the area, take a taxi- the extra few pounds is worth it for your safety. If you feel unsafe walking on your own, you could always buy a panic alarm (very cheap to buy, from about £5). Once this is pressed, it will sound a high pitched alarm to warn intruders away and alert attention, but remember there are no guarantees it will keep you safe, but it may help.
• Drugs/Alcohol- Drugs are illegal and dangerous to play with- stay away from them, unless you want to end up in hospital. Drink responsibly- you can still drink but don’t over dose. Drink plenty of water before you go out and/or after you get in from the pub/club, as this will give you less of a hangover in the morning.
• Don’t leave your drinks unattended! It only takes a few seconds for someone to slip a drug into your drink. Only leave them with trusted* friends if you have to.
• Make sure you have planned your route home and have a plan B!
• If someone starts a fight in a pub or a club, the best thing is to walk away from it and stand the moral high ground. It may be annoying to you and it may not be your fault, but they could be armed. Think about your life and your safety… is it really worth the hassle? You can always leave the bar and move on, it’s down to your choice. Only cowards fight an argument with their fists (unless in self defence). Remove yourself from the situation immediately.
• Self Defence- If someone attacks you, defend yourself as necessary and take yourself out of the situation as soon as possible. Tell the manager of the club and the police if necessary. There are no winners in fights.
• Never drink and drive- If you get a taxi between 6-8 friends there and back from the pub/club it is much cheaper and will save you the hassle of worrying about driving and parking so you can enjoy yourself. Plan in advance.
• If you are living with your parents, let them or your friends know of your plans for the evening and how to contact you.
• Don’t accept lifts from strangers- unless you are at least going in a group.
• With taxis- It is safer to go with a Taxi owned by a company, rather than an individual. Try to take a taxi in at least a pair.
• Take a mobile phone with you for emergency’s but make sure it is not on view. Make sure it has credit!
• Don’t mix drink and drugs, it could easily kill you.
• Finally, have fun! I hope this has been of help to you-Enjoy yourself and stay safe!