The Blue Bench is training bar employees to identify and prevent sex crimes at their establishments.
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BROOMFIELD, Colo. — A nonprofit in Denver is offering training to help bartenders recognize and prevent sexual harassment and assault.
The Blue Bench, a nonprofit dedicated to ending sexual assault, is offering a certification program that allows any establishment that serves alcohol to become “Safe Bar Certified.”
According to the Blue Bench, the certification offers training in bystander intervention, de-escalation, and allyship strategies to empower the staff of bars, restaurants, hotels, breweries, distilleries, clubs, event venues, suppliers, distributors, and brands to stop sexual aggression and other forms of gender-based violence in their work environments.
4 Noses Brewing Company in Broomfield took advantage of that training this week. Casey LeFever, the chief operating officer, said all of his bartenders have been certified.
“To think that nothing could happen here seems a little naïve,” LeFever said. “I never want to look back and feel like we could have done more.”
The Blue Bench reports that one in three men, one in three women, and one in two trans/non-binary people will experience an attempted or completed sexual assault in their lifetime.
“It’s anything from body language, it can be looking for intoxication or different cues from either the victim or the assailant,” he explained.
LeFever said it’s also about taking action and stopping the unwanted behavior.
“Something like a little trick, like, ‘oh let me go show you this new shirt we got…’ Pulling someone aside and finding ways to separate the two,” he said.
LeFever said it’s also about breaking down the stigma of what bars consider acceptable behavior.
“It used to be that in the industry… you had to put up with different things… that’s part of the deal,” he said. “And we don’t agree with that.”
On Friday, Gavin, a bartender who has worked at 4 Noses for the past two years said he really benefited from the training program.
“We are going to make sure everyone is on the same page here and this is our expectation,” he said.
