Safe Sips
- Audrey Malanga
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Imagine meeting a first date at a bar. Things start to get awkward… then turn creepy… and become flat-out, red-flag dangerous. What’s your next move?
Many women find a temporary safe haven in the bar’s restroom—and that is where Safe Sips Posters are designed to help increase nightlife safety.
Safe Sips Posters are a different type of menu available to bar patrons. Instead of food choices, they list personal safety information. Ideally displayed inside a restroom stall or in a sink common area, each poster provides details on what assistance staff can offer, along with helpful information for patrons to support themselves.
These may include suggestions such as:
Establishment name
Establishment address
Establishment logo (optional)
Services the establishment offers
“Water is free—just ask the waitstaff!”
“Feeling unsafe walking to your ride? Just ask security for a walk!”
“Need a quiet space? The Recovery Room is to the right of the entrance!”
“With unsafe company? Ask the bartender for an ‘Angel Shot’ or the manager!”
“Need a ride? Ask the staff to call one for you!”
“Looking for something fun without the kick? Ask the bartender for non-alcoholic options.”
A local cab number
Directions for using ride apps like Uber or Lyft
Local crisis center contact information
Social media information (optional)
These posters are completely customizable—they can be as extravagant or as simple as the business owner prefers to match their branding and aesthetics. But the message remains the same: this information is meant to assist patrons in need and provide answers for situations they may encounter.
Started as a Girl Scout Gold Award project in 2024, Safe Sips Posters is now launching into a larger initiative, with guidance and promotional support through a partnership with the New York region of SADD. This has allowed me to work with amazing individuals across the East Coast who are committed to improving our communities and making them safer.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with these individuals, as Safe Sips Posters continues to grow into something bigger and better with their help.
This project has helped me learn a lot more about distracted and impaired driving, sobriety struggles, and other serious situations—topics I was aware of before, but never to this degree. The importance of Safe Sips Posters is not only to provide help for patrons, but also to send a mindful message about the many different challenges that can arise throughout a night out.
Some of these topics are heavier than others, but no matter the situation, a patron should always be able to get the help they need—without fear.
Here are some examples!
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