Think safe, drink safe

Excessive drinking can sometimes lead to violence and has an impact on the safety of others. We want people to enjoy the vibrant nightlife in Greater Manchester, but to do it responsibly and avoid trouble. Even minor outbursts can be devastating – one drunken wild punch or shove can have lasting consequences, and can even kill.

It is just a small minority of people who, when they drink to excess, find themselves in violent situations and spoil it for the majority. It’s these people that we are encouraging to think about their behaviour, the consequences of it and to avoid getting involved by walking away from any trouble.

Although incidents of drunken violence have dropped by 10 per cent in our communities over the past five years, the Think Safe Drink Safe campaign is the GMP response to public concerns about alcohol-fuelled violence. According to ACPO statistics, nearly 80 per cent of all violence is linked to alcohol consumption.

Although short-term enforcement operations are successful in bringing offenders to justice and deterring the escalation of violence, GMP is committed to longer-term initiatives like Think Safe Drink Safe that challenge young people’s behaviour.

We all have a responsibility to ensure that a night out is a good experience and does not escalate into drunken violence. Greater Manchester Police is encouraging people to drink sensibly and walk away from trouble as part of a campaign to help make town and city centres safer places to go at night.

Here are some simple tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable night out:

Walk away from trouble

 

• Avoid trouble by walking away. If a friend starts becoming aggressive, calm them down.
• Remove them from the situation and encourage them to sober up.
• Pace your drinks.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Always try to eat something before a night out.
• If you feel too drunk, switch to soft drinks for a while.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended, even when going to the toilet.
• Never accept a drink from anyone you do not completely trust.

Stay with friends

 

 

• Go out together and leave together. Do not wander off from your friends without letting anyone know where you are going and arrange a meeting point in case you do get separated.

Take safe transport

 

 

• Pre-book a taxi to take you home and arrange to be picked up from a safe, and well-lit meeting point.
• Make sure the taxi you ordered is the one you get into.
• Know the car details and ensure the driver knows what name it was booked under.
• Find out where taxi ranks are and try to choose staffed ones.
• If alone, book a taxi firm you know and trust. Do not get a private hire car (they look like a normal car) unless you have booked them first. Only hackney carriages (traditional black cabs) are insured to carry passengers who have flagged them down. Always sit in the back, preferably behind the driver.
• Some pubs and clubs will book you a taxi and allow you to wait in their premises.

Night bus

 

 

• Night buses run until around 3am in parts of Greater Manchester. Find out when the last bus leaves so that you don't become stranded.
• Try to catch the bus from stops with bus loaders. If there isn't any in your town, use well-lit bus stops in busy areas.
• If alone, sit as near to the driver as possible and avoid empty upper decks. Tell the driver or guard if someone bothers you.

Walking

 

 

• Avoid walking home alone. If you have no other choice, walk in the middle of the pavement, avoid short cuts and face ongoing traffic.
• If you think you are being followed, cross the street several times. If you still think you are being followed, walk to the busiest area you can find or knock on somebody's door.