MOUNT PLEASANT — Seven nightlife venues in Mount Pleasant are completing bystander intervention training Sunday, Feb. 15, to officially renew their membership in the SAFE Bar Network.
The training sessions are designed to provide employees with skills to identify and interrupt unsafe or uncomfortable situations for their guests.
The sessions are facilitated by the SAFE Bar Network, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping alcohol-serving venues create safer environments. Founded in 2020, the organization has trained more than 10,000 staff members across 32 states to address issues like harassment and overconsumption.
The participating Mount Pleasant establishments include The Blue Gator, Encore The Nightclub, Blackstone Bar, O’Kelly’s Sports Bar & Grill, Wayside Central, Rubbles and The Cabin.
Management at these venues has committed to training all employees to prioritize customer safety. Participants will learn to identify subtle signs of concerning behavior and gain the confidence to de-escalate potential conflicts.
The training program consists of 60-minute sessions that utilize group discussions, role-playing and brainstorming. These exercises are designed to help front-of-house staff agree on which behaviors require intervention and how to communicate safety lessons to their colleagues.
The SAFE Bar Network provides these sessions at no charge to the venues, provided that the businesses compensate their staff for the time spent in training.
Haleigh Harrold serves as the executive director of the SAFE Bar Network. She emphasized that the program is designed to be proactive rather than strictly reactive.
“This training isn’t just about reacting — it’s about creating a culture where prevention is part of the everyday conversation,” Harrold said. She noted that the atmosphere of a venue changes when staff members feel confident in supporting one another and speaking up.
The nonprofit reports that the program has been effective, with 97% of participants stating they know at least one practical way to prevent harassment, overconsumption and other forms of harm. Additionally, 98% of past participants reported learning a new skill they planned to use immediately.
Since its founding in 2020, the network has grown to include nearly 400 venues and has trained more than 10,000 staff members.
Darian Everding, a member of the SAFE Bar Network, noted that there has been significant local interest in the program.
“There has been such an outpouring of interest from area bars and restaurants that we’ve scheduled additional training sessions and have several referrals for local hospitality professionals,” Everding said.
As part of their membership, the seven Mount Pleasant venues will display coasters and signage to inform guests that the staff is trained to assist anyone feeling unsafe.
Additional training sessions have been scheduled for other local hospitality professionals. Bars and restaurants interested in the training can register through the SAFE Bar Network website.