Express Online Training

Sign Up | Forgot your password?

How To Get Help In a Bar

Going for a night out should be a fun, carefree time, but sadly this isn’t always the case. If you find yourself feeling scared, unsafe, or just generally in an uneasy situation, there are a few subtle methods you can employ to get help in a venue.

It’s good to be aware of popular initiatives, “safeword drinks“, and code words for help in a bar to subtly let bar staff and management know you’re in a potentially bad situation, without informing other parties present.

In today’s article, we take a look at some popular methods of getting help in a bar, including the Ask for Angela initiative and the angel shot.

Ask for Angela

The Ask for Angela campaign began in the UK, and has since taken off around the world. Venues that are participating in the initiative will have posters or flyers displayed in discreet spaces such as the cubicles in the women’s bathrooms. It is designed to allow someone who feels uncomfortable to approach a bartender and ‘Ask for Angela’, subtly letting staff know that they don’t feel safe. The person causing discomfort could be a date, a partner, a friend, or a stranger.

The South Australian Government writes:

“This is not about women’s safety, or making women responsible for ensuring their own safety – this is about ensuring that venues, their staff, and even community members, have the ability to respond to inappropriate behaviour.”

Ask for Angela is not mandatory for venues across Australia, and establishments can decide whether or not they wish to participate. It’s the responsibility of the venues that participate to educate their staff on how to assist patrons.

What happens if you Ask for Angela?

If you Ask for Angela at a participating venue, staff will do their best to discreetly separate you from the person you are with and escort you to your car, or call a cab or rideshare to get you to a safe location. They may also remove the other person from the establishment.

Angel shot

The ‘angel shot’ is similar to the Ask for Angela campaign. They are both code words for help in a bar. If you find yourself feeling unsafe while in a venue that participates in this initiative, approach the bar and ask staff to make you an angel shot. You won’t actually be given a drink. A bartender in a participating venue will know this means you would like assistance with leaving the venue without your date/friend/partner’s knowledge, and should do their best to help you. They may also remove the other person from the establishment.

Ask staff for assistance

Even if a venue doesn’t participate in the Ask for Angela or angel shot initiatives, you can always ask venue staff for assistance if you feel you’re in a compromised situation. Bar staff and security are trained to help patrons, so if you’re feeling unsafe you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out and get their attention.

Reaching out when you feel unsafe can feel a little daunting, but doing so can ensure staff are aware of the situation and able to provide assistance.

The importance of bartender training

It’s a good idea to be across social campaigns and initiatives as a bartender. This way, if a patron approaches you and uses one of these subtle initiatives to let you know they feel in danger, you’ll know how to assist them.

While Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates (RSAs) don’t currently teach the Ask for Angela and angel shot meanings as standard, they do provide valuable education on assessing and identifying high-risk situations, and dealing with various scenarios. Across Australia, it is required that all people working within a licensed establishment have a current and valid RSA.

Where to get an RSA

You can obtain an RSA from any RTO accredited organisation – such as Express Online Training. Places such as Express Online Training can even allow you to complete your RSA online and at your own pace.

There are RSAs for each Australian state and territory, along with a general RSA that’s valid for use in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania.

Initiatives such as Ask for Angela and the angel shot are designed to create a way for patrons to subtly let bar staff know they are feeling unsafe. Remember, regardless of whether a bar participates in a campaign or not, you can always let staff know you’re in a compromised position and would like some help.

Archives

  • March 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • RSA Competency Check

    Have you completed an accredited RSA course previously?

    Do you hold any of the following?

    Current or Recently Expired NSW RSA Competency Card

    If you have a current Competency Card you cannot re-complete the course to renew it while it is current. This includes any learners in the 28 day renewal period or who have a current NSW RSA Competency Card endorsement but have not received their card.

    You can check if you have a Current Competency Card or endorsement here

    If you choose to continue you must declare below that you understand that your existing competency card endorsement(s) will not be renewed. By continuing you accept responsibility for providing correct and accurate information about your NSW RSA currency and understand that should you be found ineligible to undertake the course or renew your NSW RSA you may not be entitled to a refund.

    NSW RSA Interim Certificate issued within 5 years from the "Valid for duties date"

    If you have a current NSW RSA interim certificate issued within 5 years from the "Valid for duties" you cannot complete the NSW RSA course again. You must visit a Service NSW centre with your Interim Certificate to obtain your card.

    You can check if you have a Current Competency Card or endorsement here

    By continuing you accept responsibility for providing correct and accurate information about your NSW RSA currency, understanding that this will not renew your NSW RSA and that should you be found ineligible to undertake or renew your NSW RSA by completing the course you may not be entitled to a refund.

    Is your RSA current and issued by a Registered Training Organisation or a state/territory approved training organisation?

    Are you planning to reside permanently in NSW?

    You may be eligible to receive the NSW RSA by completing a bridging course

    If you wish to apply to Liquor & Gaming NSW to complete their RSA bridging course, please note that EOT cannot confirm if your interstate RSA will be accepted, and it is your responsibility to research and confirm you meet the eligibility requirements.

    You may be eligible to work temporarily in NSW using your current RSA

    If you wish to temporarily work in NSW under Automatic Mutual Recognition, please note that EOT cannot confirm if your interstate RSA is eligible, and it is your cresponsibility to research and confirm you meet the eligibility requirements before commencing work in NSW.