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DHP to extend Drinkaware Crew programme
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 13 July 2017
Live firm DHP Family has been talking up a programme it has developed with Drinkaware – the education charity primarily funded by the alcohol industry – which aims to “help young people stay safe and reduce the harm that can result from a drunken night out”. The live music company says it now plans to roll out its Drinkaware Crew project – piloted at Nottingham’s Rock City and Bristol’s Thekla – to other venues in its portfolio.
The programme basically involves having staff at DHP’s venues that are specifically focused on looking for customers who may be in distress due to heavy alcohol consumption and to offer them assistance, which may be as simple as locating lost friends or helping people to a taxi. These staff members have bespoke training and wear branded uniforms, and provide a service that otherwise falls to busy bar staff or security.
Says Julie Tippins, Head Of Compliance at DHP Family: “The project has been a really valuable exercise so far, it has not only helped our customers to remain safe but it has also freed up managers and security staff to keep the venue operation running effectively when they would have been otherwise tied up”.
Noting the alliance with Drinkaware, Tippins continued: “We worked closely with Drinkaware on developing the scheme and this had led to us taking on our own staff, who have been working in two of our venues since October 2016. We’re delighted with the impact of Drinkaware Crew to date and are looking to roll it out to other venues in our portfolio”.
The General Manager at DHP’s Thekla venue in Bristol, Alex Black, added: “We’ve had incredible feedback from other management and customers, we are definitely going to keep the Crew on board because it frees up time for management and security and increases the safety of our customers”.
Meanwhile Drinkaware CEO Elaine Hindal has also bigged up the scheme, telling reporters: “Drinkaware is committed to finding new and innovative ways to reduce the harms caused by alcohol and to help keep people safe on a night out”.
She goes on: “The Drinkaware Crew at Rock City and Thekla carry out a vital role in supporting vulnerable people whilst minimising the associated costs that drunken behaviour can have on the local night-time economy. Drinkaware is delighted to be working with DHP to help their customers enjoy their night out safely and securely”.
