It’s a real issue that could affect anyone, and is part and parcel of what many women have come to expect in public places. So I was honoured to be involved in shaping the debate and highlighting some options to improve the situation as part of my evidence to the Women and Equalities Select Committee earlier this week.
Drinkaware’s research[1], reveals the extent of drunken sexual harassment in a range of public places with nearly two thirds (63%) of women and a quarter of men (26%) who drink in bars, clubs and pubs saying that they had been on the receiving end of some form of sexual harassment.
That’s a shocking statistic and being drunk is no excuse. Not to mention that sexual harassment is against the law.
And that’s why we’ve been running ‘It’s OK to Ask’, a behaviour change programme encouraging bystanders safely to intervene when spotting individuals in need on a night out and giving them advice and help to do so.