Alaska Folk Fest: Stay Safe, Watch Out

0:00With the Alaska Folk Festival rolling into Juneau soon, downtown bars are gearing up for major crowdsurge and that means heightened risks of drink, spiking and assaults. Local bartenders with years on the job, like one who's poured for 16 years, stressing sharp to keep everyone safe. These pros train their teams to scan the room for red flags, like someone repeatedly grabbing drinks for one person without their say-so. They'll even check in directly, asking if the drink is wanted, and push folks to turn down any offer that feels off, no matter if it seems rude. Experts from aware, Juno's group fighting domestic violence and sexual assault, say safety's a team effort, not just on the potential victim. Bystanders play a huge role by watching each other's backs, making it tougher for bad actors to isolate targets. Look out for folks trying to pull someone away or showering them with too much focus, interrupt casually by regrouping or shifting conversations. No need for drama, even if it's innocent, it rarely derails a real connection.

1:00Bottom line, if something feels wrong after a night out, hit up Ower's Crisis Line at 907-586-10904. Support, no questions asked. Let's keep the festival vibes positive for all. That's your update from Anchorage News today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.