Program trains drink servers about identifying, combating harassment

A new program will help bartenders and servers identify and, if necessary, intervene when patrons are being sexually harassed or assaulted.

It’s called Drink Safe Florida, and it’s the brainchild of the program’s founders and trainers: Ann-Marie Bays and Janell Williams, two veterans of the adult beverage scene in Downtown DeLand.

“Bar servers will be trained in de-escalation and to be able to assess and determine the best course of action,” said Williams, who also is a reporter for The West Volusia Beacon.

Bays said the program is designed to help more than just straight women feel safe.

“It’s applicable to all walks of life, and also to men,” Bays said. “It’s not just the LGBTQ community; whatever sexual orientation or gender you identify with, there’s always a way to use the program.”

Drink Safe entails posting regularly changed code words in men’s and women’s bathrooms. If a patron feels threatened, he or she can mention that word to a bartender or server, and help will be summoned.

Alternatively, employees are trained to identify when patrons are in trouble, either by a patron’s body language, a specific kind of look a patron might give to those around him or her, or by noticing a patron frequently moving away from a perceived threat. Staff are also trained in ways to distract potential threats.

“Bartenders are trained not to intervene unless asked to, or unless they’ve correctly assessed the situation,” Williams said.

Williams and Bays already have trained staff at a couple of Downtown DeLand establishments. One is Y.O.L.O. Bar & Grilled Cheese, where owner Elizabeth Carpenter feels it’s important to offer a safe place for people to come without worrying about getting their drinks drugged or being a victim of abuse.

“If someone feels threatened, they should be able to reach out to one of us on the sly without getting into more trouble,” Carpenter said. “We want to be a place where women can come in by themselves without worrying about their safety.”

Carpenter said every establishment should get the program.

Drink Safe entails more than the initial staff training. It’s a full year of monthly services for each certified location: posters, quick-reference sheets at server stations, a training handbook for each staff member, off-site training for new hires, community newsletters and awareness promos, and an online database of certified locations and staff.

In addition, trainers are available by phone and email to discuss any problems, concerns, and victories participants in the program may have, according to a Drink Safe fact sheet.

Right now, the program is being offered free of charge through community donations and fundraisers. Bays and Williams are seeking corporate sponsorships, because it will soon cost each establishment about $675 for the training and a year of maintenance.

So far, Abbey, Odd Elixir Meadery and Y.O.L.O. are on board, and several more Downtown DeLand establishments are considering the program. The goal, Bays said, is to have at least 80 percent of Downtown establishments certified by the time the introductory phase is over. The founders also want to expand beyond DeLand’s borders.

Bill Budzinski at The Elusive Grape said he “can’t wait” to have his servers take the training.

“It’s going to be pretty intensive and time-consuming, so we’re trying to set up the best time for it,” Budzinski said. “It’s an invaluable tool in this day and age.”

For more information, call 386-232-8551, email info@drinksafeflorida.org, or go to www.drinksafeflorida.org, facebook.com/drinksafefl, or @drinksafeflorida on Instagram.

- Joe Crews, joe@beacononlinenews.com