A Lower Mainland barwatch program is upping its current groping ban to two years.
Vancouver’s Barwatch announced Monday (May 13) that it would be increasing the penalties for offenders of its Anti-Groping Policy. Previously, it was a one-year ban.
The increased penalty is in addition to an immediate evication from the bar or nightclub.
Barwatch chair Curtis Robinson said that each incident will also be reported to Vancouver police “who Barwatch members will expect to investigate these assaults.”
The owner of the bar or nightclub can also choose to implement a non-admissable patron ban for two years that would extend to all 36 establishments in the program.
“We’re implementing this campaign in order to build an environment in which all staff and guests in our member establishments are safe and can have peace of mind that groping is seen as a series offense that will not be accepted by our organization,” Robinson said.
Barwatch was started in 1995 as a voluntary joint program between 36 liquor establishments in downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver police.
READ MORE: Man facing 19 charges tied to violent after-hours Vancouver nightclub robbery