The cost of living crisis is forcing many women to walk home after a night out, despite reporting safety concerns. New research suggests almost two-thirds of the public say personal safety is at the forefront of their mind on a night out.
It suggests around 81% of women who visit pubs, clubs and bars say they consider their safety when thinking about getting home. Around 63% of women say they plan their routes home before heading out.
Budweiser Brewing Group's research says the cost-of-living crisis has seen drinkers evaluating how they get back after nights out. With one in five women altering their behaviour to walk more, with 49% saying they take fewer taxis.
The study found 37% of women said they would feel safer if they had access to a personal safety app which features a crime map, live location tracking, close contact notifications, and a SOS button, they would feel safer on a night out.
It also found two-thirds of women would likely plan their route home before heading out, and were more likely to visit a nigh-time venue that had safety measures in place. Around 53% of women were more likely to visit a venue that has anti-harassment and discrimination policies, compared to men (35%).
Budweiser Brewing Group says it has a long held belief that experiences involving beer should be positive. It has now announced a collaboration with WalkSafe+, an app designed to help people get home more easily.
WalkSafe+'s 500,000 users can plan their route home using the latest tools and information based on police data, whether that’s a live incident or a warning about a lack of streetlights. Budweiser hopes the promoting the app will help people get home more safely.
Brian Perkins, Budweiser Brewing Group president, said: “At Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I we see it as our personal responsibility and purpose to make every experience with beer a positive one. We are therefore proud to be collaborating with WalkSafe+, to promote digital tools which address issues which disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups. We are committed to an inclusive environment in hospitality, which brings benefits to communities and businesses alike.
"We recognise the role we play in the night-time economy, and have a responsibility to both our customers and consumers to empower people to enjoy their nights out safely.”
Emma Kay, WalkSafe founder, said: ‘We are excited to be collaborating with Budweiser Brewing Group, to help support our mission to make the world a safer place, giving our users the opportunity to put their personal safety first. WalkSafe+ is an app that should not have to exist, however, research shows that personal safety is an issue that affects everyone,
"WalkSafe+ encourages people to take precautionary measures to avoid crime, rather than reactionary measures when they find themselves in an unfortunate situation. We want everyone to be able to enjoy their night out, but to do so as safely as possible.”
