UTRECHT – The Trimbos Institute warns young people who go out tonight for the first time in a long time. Because the clubs have been closed for almost two years due to the corona measures, many are no longer used to going out. Moreover, there are young people who have never gone out for a night out.
According to the institute, young people often do not yet know their own limits on alcohol and drug use. “In addition, these new partygoers have not yet been initiated into the unwritten social rules of going out,” says Ruben van Beek of the institute on Radio M Utrecht.
According to Van Beek, the young people do not yet know how to behave towards the doorman, the bar staff or the police: “Normally, these relationships and norms form in a natural way, copied from the more experienced people who go out. That opportunity they haven’t had yet.”
During previous relaxations, we saw that people drank more alcohol, such as specialty beer and cocktails. At the same time, the tolerance for this has declined: the body is less used to it.
The institute is concerned that young people are less used to the lockdowns, which increases the chance of incidents, collisions or transgressive behaviour. “During previous relaxations, we saw that people drank more alcohol, such as specialty beer and cocktails. At the same time, the tolerance for this has decreased: the body is less used to it. Many young people have had corona and some got a worse condition as a result.”
“Furthermore, the setting full of loud music, lamps and other people also takes some getting used to. All these incentives may increase the chance of incidents in the coming period.”
Unpredictable or more intense effects
In addition, the institute emphasizes that a small group of people have experimented with drugs at home in the past two years. “There is a chance that this group is not aware that these substances in a crowded club or disco can have different and possibly unpredictable or more severe effects, such as anxiety and panic attacks.”
According to Trimbos, the catering entrepreneurs have an important task. Their person must be able to estimate how someone is going about it and whether someone is still allowed to buy drinks, for example. “They also have to be ready to de-escalate situations and kick out a visitor where necessary. That can be a challenge, because experienced doormen and bar staff have left the hospitality industry on a large scale and many new, inexperienced employees are taking on the job.”
bang urge
The institute advises that the staff go through a number of scenarios with each other before the doors open: “Preferably in collaboration with the local boas and (the catering team of) the police. And in order to focus on training for the entire staff.”
Van Beek does not expect any problems for tonight: “The bars have been open for a while. The first ‘bang urge’ has already happened, that makes a difference.”
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