Bouncers, also known as doormen, are a type of security guard who are employed by bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues such as sporting events, casinos, billiard halls, etc. Usually, bouncers are hired due to their experience in the field of wrestling or fighting, and they could be either gang or street fighters, police, or even military.
As the front guard in maintaining a safe and controlled environment, bouncers actually have their own techniques to prevent fights and keep the conditions of bars conducive. Since they have a lot of experience fighting, do bouncers always use their force to prevent a fight at the bar? Or maybe they have their own techniques?
Okay, here’s everything you can know about techniques that bouncers may use at bars!
What Techniques Do Bouncers Use at Bars to Prevent a Fight?
Legally, they have to use proper techniques to prevent a fight at bars, and these are done step-by-step, including:
1. Identify each customer
Before the customers are allowed to enter the bars, bouncers will have to identify each customer to ensure they meet the age requirements and don’t bring prohibited items like guns or knives. If they find something wrong, they may have to sign it. As professional bouncers, they should not be felt by women who want to enter the bar without paying and without inspection.
2. Observe the bars carefully
The bouncers are totally trained to observe the body language of each customer, their behavior, and how they interact with each other. If they have this skill, they will easily find troublemakers. Then, they may carefully pay attention to signs of tension or aggression in the crowd.
Bouncers should also monitor the alcohol consumption of each customer. If there are individuals who are clearly intoxicated, they should cut them off and try to offer them another drink.
3. Using assertive language to relieve tension
If tension finally occurs among certain people at bars, a.k.a., troublemakers, bouncers may use verbal communication skills to de-escalate conflicts before they develop into physical violence. They will use calming and assertive language to diffuse tense situations.
To relieve the tension, they may take the troublemakers outside or somewhere else at the bar. Then, they will approach them in a friendly way to calm them down. If the person refuses, they may require them to leave the bar in a respectful way, without physical force.
4. Maintain the situation of bar
While relieving the tension, bouncers should also maintain a visible presence and control the flow of customers in and out. However, it can help them prevent overcrowding and reduce the likelihood of confrontations.
To easily help them maintain the bars’ situation, they can check security cameras to identify the individuals who are involved in incidents and provide evidence if needed. If they have found individuals who they believe can cause trouble or really know them based on past behavior, they can require them to leave if signs of aggression begin to appear.
5. Use their force
If the situation starts to get out of control and even troublemakers try to attack them, they will eventually have to use their power to defend themselves. However, they should use their minimum force to protect them and other customers and to control the bars’ situation.
6. Contact the bar manager
If they find it hard to handle the troublemakers, they can try to contact the bar manager and tell them what happened at the bar as clearly as possible. If necessary, the managers may call the local law enforcement agency to ask for assistance.
Well, those are some ideal and proper techniques that bouncers may use to prevent a fight at bars.
However, they should always prioritize safety and follow the law when they have to use force or make decisions regarding the bars’ customers. Basically, the reason the bouncers present themselves at the bar is to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all customers and minimize conflicts and violence that may occur.
Will Bouncers Always Use Their Force to Chase Away Customers at Bars?
Many people think that bouncers will always use their force to chase away customers or people who make trouble at bars. Well, this is just a misunderstanding that has grown in society. However, it’s not wrong either, considering the fact that many bouncers attack bars’ customers brutally, leading to death.
That’s a big mistake! Bouncers basically do not have the authority to use force to physically remove the customers who cause trouble from the premises. Although many believe that bouncers can use pain compliance holds, pressure points, full-nelsons, joint manipulation, and arm bars to paralyze their customers, this is absolutely not true.
In short, bouncers do not have legal ways to use their force against customers unless they are detaining someone for a crime or in self-defense. However, they’ll be required to use their force depending on the conditions; that means no punching, no tackling, no choking, no headbutts, no kicking, and no pain compliance holds.
In most cases, bouncers do not have special authority to physically eject a customer; they can instead demand the undesirable customer leave. If the person refuses, they can ask for help from local police to secure the situation.
Sometimes, when you tell the unwanted customer that the police will come to pick them up, they will leave the bar with a feeling of anxiety. In some states, bouncers may have to use minimal force to remove a troublemaker at the bar if the person has been given prior warning.
Well, the police will also ask a troublemaker to leave the bar in a good manner. If the person refuses, the police may also issue a formal warning to them not to return to the bars in the future. If the person returns after receiving a formal warning, they will be willing to be arrested.
What Triggers a Bar Fight?
A full and crowded bar that causes people to jostle and rub against each other can trigger a fight. Usually, the people who start fights are just aggressive drunks, but if something sensitive is triggered, they don’t hesitate to throw punches.
In most cases, women could be a big factor in bar fights; some men are hitting other men’s women, and others may start to attempt another man’s woman, or even fights between gangs who had problems previously meeting in the same bar at the same time. So, bar fights are inevitable due to those factors.
Well, this is where the role of a bouncer is needed regarding how he can control the atmosphere of the bar to remain safe and prevent fights at the bar. Even though bouncers can use their powers to handle potentially violent situations, they should do this at the very last stage if the situation gets out of control.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
