Halloween Tips for Bar-goers
Headed Downtown? Here Are a Few Handy Guidelines
Though it may seem silly to go over safety tips for adults, a lot of these are often forgotten, and that can ruin a perfectly good Halloween outing.
Pay Attention to Halloween Costume Accessories
This is incredibly important. Policemen/women, gangsters, cowboys/girls, movie characters; all are popular places to go for Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, all are also associated with guns. While there are definitely cartoon-y guns out there, there are also a lot of guns that can look pretty real, especially in a dimly lit bar (and especially under the influence of alcohol). The best bet is to simply leave these accessories at home, along with anything else that might become a weapon. Drunk party-goers, especially at college bars, can be tempted to take walking sticks, billy clubs, or any other accessory they think looks cool.
Also, it's often illegal to bring guns (even fake ones) into bars and other establishments. Consider calling ahead or checking with a bouncer before Halloween.
Finally, consider wearing a watch! That way it's easier to decide when to move on to another bar, head home, or plan a time to meet up with friends.
Find a Safe Place for Phones/Wallets/Purses/Money on Halloween Costume
More than any other night of the year, Halloween can make it difficult to find places to keep money, wallets, and purses, especially if wearing a skimpy costume for girls or for men, anything without pockets. Here are some ideas:
- Try to only bring the essentials: ID, money and/or credit card
- Have only one phone with party/per couple
- If making own costume, sew a hidden pocket to carry ID/money in
- Consider any costume with pouches/pockets first
- Consider pooling money together with friends for the evening and have one person carry
- Be weary of using bras or anything not completely secure to store money and IDs, as being bumped around in a crowded bar should be expected on Halloween
- Make sure pocket/pouch is large enough to keep items from falling out/being stolen
Use the Buddy System at the Bars on Halloween
It sounds stupid and childish, but it also makes good sense. If going to the bars in a group, pick one person to partner up with and keep track of. This keeps people from getting lost from the group, ending up having to find their way home alone (or with the wrong person), and without help if they need it. It's also a way to pool money and IDs together. If not bar-hopping in a group, find at least one friend to go with so both parties can stay as safe as possible. This is not just for girls! Guys need someone to watch their back and keep them out of trouble just as much as anyone else.
Do Research and Make a Plan Before Bar-Hopping on Halloween
Finally, make up a plan the night before heading out. Bars can have some nice deals on Halloween drinks, but they can also have steep cover prices. By making even a general plan, it's easier to figure out how much money to bring (depending on location, many bars will be too busy to open up a tab so cash might be a good idea), and if times are set for each location, a party can easily regroup and move on together without losing anyone.
Staying safe on Halloween is just as important as having a good time at the bars. Getting arrested or loosing an ID is very few people's idea of fun, so plan ahead and have a good time!
Utility belts are a great place to store money
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