Safer Drinking Spaces Study
Partnering with venues across the country to evaluate approaches that help create safer drinking spaces and prevent sexual violence.
Researchers from RTI International, the University of Florida, and Georgia State University are partnering with Safe Bars, Inc. to conduct a 4-year research study.
This study will help us:
- Create safer spaces in drinking venues
- Understand how to better support staff to recognize and respond to situations to prevent sexual violence
- Inform future trainings to prevent sexual violence in drinking venues
The study will be conducted in 30 alcohol-serving venues across the U.S. It will be one of the first rigorous evaluation studies of a sexual violence prevention program in this setting.
Participating venues will be randomly assigned to either receive Safe Bars Active Bystander training at no cost or to join a waitlist control group. Venues on the waitlist will have the opportunity to receive the training after 6 months.
Staff at participating venues will be invited to complete a series of electronic surveys over a 12-month period. Over this same period, samples of patrons will be invited to complete a single, electronic survey. A small number of staff may also participate in interviews.
Staff and patrons will receive financial incentives for participating in surveys and interviews.
Who is involved?
The Safer Drinking Spaces Study is led by researchers from RTI, International in partnership with University of Florida, Georgia State University, and Safe Bars Incorporated.
The Safer Drinking Spaces Study is supported by the CDC NCIPC (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control). We were awarded one of three CDC‑funded grants to evaluate sexual violence and interpersonal violence prevention initiatives. In this study, we will evaluate an active bystander training program with a particular emphasis on community‑level strategies and outcomes.