Georgia bar and nightclub patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment they are visiting. Nightclub & Bar magazine urges industry owners and managers to take a proactive approach to guest and staff safety, starting with three key steps:
1. Security Starts at the Front Door
Strong lead doormen are vital for maintaining a safe environment for guests. Strong in this context refers to more than physical strength. Doormen must also be mentally strong enough to refuse entry to potential troublemakers. This sounds much easier than it is in reality. Strong security staff members know how to refuse entry to troublemakers and diffuse potential altercations with people who believe they are entitled to enter your venue. When intoxicated people feel any kind of emotion that resembles rejection, they can sometimes become hostile. This is where having a head doorman with quick wits and street smarts comes into play; vigilant head doormen can refuse entry to anyone. This includes every category of person who believes they have a right to enter, be it a famous celebrity, professional athlete, gang member, or a person known for drinking too much.
2. Actively Engage & Neutralize Threats
Strong security personnel do not wait for trouble to begin before they intervene. If all the security staff does is break up fights, it is a clear indication that they are not engaging threats before they escalate….Security staff are constantly scanning the environment, communicating with guests and other members of the security team, and identifying potential threats as the night is underway. There are some situations, such men slipping sedatives into women’s drinks, that can appear as innocent as a conversation between regular bar patrons. A great security-minded team can spot these kinds of incidents and neutralize the threats before bad things happen.
3. Work with Local Law Enforcement
Even with a strong security team, there are some bad people who require an assist from law enforcement. Strong security staff know the local police and gang suppression teams, and work to build good relations with them. Sometimes, all it takes is a text message sent to a local police officer to get a known gang-affiliated person who the security staff cannot and should not attempt to confront removed from the premises. With great relationships with local law enforcement, security staff will assuredly have the backup they need to handle these kinds of difficult situations.
Read full article at Nightclub & Bar magazine.
Nightclub Patron Rights
By law, bar and nightclub owners are required to protect all guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the property owner or management company fail to provide adequate safety and security measures, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.
The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Georgia Clients in Fulton County State Court.
