Safer Drinking Spaces Study

Conditions

• Bystander Intervention
• Sexual Violence

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Safe Bars active bystander training — BEHAVIORAL
  Safe Bars, Inc. (SBI)'s active bystander training is a primary prevention approach with three main components designed to (1) educate venue staff about the associations between alcohol and SV, (2) build bystander intervention skills and self-efficacy among venue staff, and (3) generate venue-level solutions to SV prevention. The 2.5-hour initial training combines didactic teaching with group brainstorming and practice-based role plays to teach staff actions they can take in response to risky scenarios observed in venue settings. Beyond increasing staff knowledge and skill, the training is also designed to spur venues' plans to support long-term culture change that reflects their local context and needs. After the initial training, SBI maintains a regular schedule of follow-up with trained venues to offer implementation support and access to SBI's other trainings in de-escalation and allyship.

Study Details

The goal of this study is to evaluate the active bystander training provided by Safe Bars, Inc. and their local chapter organizations to staff at alcohol-serving establishments (e.g., bars). The training aims to improve norms about violence, create safer environments by teaching staff to intervene in potentially harmful situations, and help prevent sexual violence in the venue community. The study will examine the implementation and effectiveness of the training. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Do staff and patrons at venues that have received Safe Bars training experience lower rates of sexual violence at the venue than staff and patrons at venues that have not received the training? 2. Are staff at venues that have received Safe Bars training more likely to intervene in potentially risky situations than staff at venues that have not received the training? 3. What characteristics of venue environments and staff and patron beliefs and perceptions are responsible for effects of the training on sexual violence and bystander behavior outcomes? 4. What characteristics and conditions are necessary for effective Safe Bars implementation and improved staff and patron outcomes? Researchers will compare staff and patron experiences at venues that have received the training with venues that are offered a delayed training. Staff and patron participants will be asked to complete surveys over about 12 months, research staff will conduct observations of training and observations in the venues, and selected venue managers and staff will be asked to complete individual interviews.

Key Dates

Start date

May 31, 2026

Status verified

May 2026

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2028

Completion

Dec 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment

3,180 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Arms

• Experimental: Safe Bars Training
  Venues assigned to this arm will receive the Safe Bars active bystander training for their staff after baseline data collection for the study.
• Other: Wait-List Control
  Venues assigned to this arm will be offered the Safe Bars active bystander training for their staff after the 6-month follow-up data collection for the study. They will not receive an intervention during the first 6 months of the study.

Primary Outcome Measure

Sexual assault victimization among patrons [ Time Frame: Baseline to 12 months ]

Central Contacts

• Marni Kan
  919-485-2756
  [email protected]
• Nichole Scaglione
  (352) 294-0548
  [email protected]

Locations (3)

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