Making Your Night Out a Safer One

Written by Tessa Ward and Chris Wise and published in Local parish newsletter on Wed 18th Oct 2006

This Autumn will see the launch of the Night Safe scheme to promote safety for those enjoying a late night in Abingdon.

Night Safe aims to promote responsible drinking and behaviour. It is supported by Abingdon pubs and restaurants, Thames Valley Police, the Vale of White Horse District Council and the Abingdon community.

Under the scheme, town centre licensees sign up to recommendations such as joining the Pub Watch and a radio link scheme, providing training for bar staff on managing alcohol misuse, as well as avoiding drinks promotions on Thursday nights and at weekends after 8pm. They are also encouraged to provide reasonably priced soft drinks and free drinking water, and to not admit young people under 18-years-old after 9pm.

Each premise that signs up to the scheme is to have a special plaque to display, and their door staff are to wear high visibility Night Safe jackets.

The scheme incorporates several initiatives that have already been working well in Abingdon. It encourages greater collective team work to help make Abingdon a safer place while everyone can enjoy a good night out.