Supporting the industry-wide Initiative, 86 Harassment free trainings will now include Safe Bars Active Bystander Intervention, De-escalation and Actionable Allyship Workshops
New York, NY – August 6, 2024 –Safe Bars Inc. (www.safebars.org) and Women of the Vine & Spirits (www.womenofthevine.com) announced today an industry collaboration, aligning their missions of providing a safer and more inclusive beverage alcohol and hospitality industry for all.
Safe Bars Inc. is thrilled to have joined Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), the only global membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women across every industry sector and all three-tiers of the beverage alcohol industry, as an Associate Corporate Member. As a national nonprofit organization that helps alcohol-serving spaces create safe, welcoming, and respectful environments for their patrons and staff, Safe Bars’ Corporate Membership will help propel the mission of boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era.
Earlier this year Women of the Vine & Spirits announced a new key initiative, 86 Harassment (www.86harassment.com). 86 Harassment is the first industry-wide initiative specifically designed for the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries to co-create an action plan aimed at reducing incidents of harassment and violence. 86 Harassment provides the industry with industry-specific free training, downloadable resources, as well as a 24/7 free and confidential hotline staffed by RAINN (www.RAINN.org), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
As a leading industry resource for educating the beverage and hospitality industries on sexual violence prevention and response, Safe Bars will be engaging with 86 Harassment by offering trainings on the platform. Three trainings are currently scheduled, with the first installment kicking off this week. Additional sessions will continue to be added to the 86 Harassment calendar.
- Wednesday, September 25: De-escalation Training for Hospitality Staff
- Wednesday, October 23: Actionable Allyship: An Immersive Workshop for Hospitality Professionals
“We are thrilled to welcome Safe Bars Inc. to Women of the Vine & Spirits as a Corporate Member.” said Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and 86 Harassment Council Member. “And we are so grateful to collaborate with them as trainers on 86 Harassment. Safe Bars Inc. helps the beverage alcohol industry create safe environments through their unique training model. 86 Harassment makes these industry-specific trainings available at no cost to those in the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries.”
“We could not be more excited to collaborate with an organization whose mission and programming speak to the very heart of Safe Bars and look forward to seeing everyone at one of our upcoming virtual workshops on 86 Harassment in August, September, and October,” said Amie Ward, Executive Director, Safe Bars Inc.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, the 86 Harassment Hotline provides free, anonymous 24/7 support via phone at 1.781.277.6679 in English and Spanish. Learn more here. RAINN’s website (www.rainn.org) also provides information on supporting loved ones who are survivors, helping yourself heal if you’ve been directly affected by sexual violence, and how to be part of creating safer communities.
About Safe Bars Inc.
Safe Bars Inc. is a DC/Baltimore-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 whose mission is to prevent sexual harassment and assault in alcohol-serving spaces by teaching active bystander and de-escalation skills to hospitality staff, ultimately changing industry culture. Safe Bars serves communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The Safe Bars Executive Director, Amie Ward, has over 20 years experience in all facets of the hospitality industry. Safe Bars has a team of 16 trainers across the country, all of them hospitality professionals. To learn more and discuss scheduling, please contact info@safebars.org.
About Women of the Vine & Spirits
Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) is the only global membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women across every industry sector and all three-tiers of the beverage alcohol industry. Women of the Vine & Spirits is an organization for members to connect through our global and diverse network and collaborate across all industry sectors. Providing members with resources and opportunities to thrive is the cornerstone of our organization’s success. We offer steadfast support to equip women at every position in the field with membership benefits that include education, training, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and networking as well as tools, services, and resources for personal and professional development. We use storytelling to cast a light on experiences common to women and highlight the successful career paths of the women currently driving our industry to a more inclusive and equitable future. Together, we are a committed community, taking action, and making a positive impact on the beverage alcohol industry, through business development & innovation (BDI), worldwide. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.
About 86 Harassment – A Women of the Vine & Spirits Initiative
86 Harassment is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence within the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries. It serves as a collaborative effort to provide resources, support, and education to create safer work environments for all employees and customers. 86 Harassment is led by Women of the Vine & Spirits, in thanks to the generous financial support of our Sponsors, who hold a seat on the 86 Harassment Council: Brown-Forman, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Pernod Ricard North America, Republic National Distributing Company, Spirits Canada and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. For more information, please visit www.86harassment.com.
