When it comes to nightlife security, minds drift back to old-school bouncers and Road House rules with the strongest, burliest guys in town just itching to throw people out.
Thatsa国际传媒檚 not the case, today.
Modern-day security guards are now trained professionals.
The manager of the Liquid Zoo, David Habib, sat down with Capital News to discuss what it takes to work in the field.
sa国际传媒淏ack in the early 90s when I first got into the business, you had to stock yourself with the biggest, toughest guys because they had to be capable of dealing with all kinds of issues which were pretty much a weekly thing.sa国际传媒�
Security at liquor establishments is required to be licensed through the province and complete Basic Security Training, a 40-hour course including a final exam.
The Liquid Zoo takes this one step further by requiring all security staff to complete Advanced Security Training, allowing them to use handcuffs as restraints.
sa国际传媒淪ince we reopened in February, [using handcuffs as restraints] maybe happened two or three times. Itsa国际传媒檚 not a very regular thing and itsa国际传媒檚 all going to be dependent on the personsa国际传媒檚 attitude.sa国际传媒�
As manager, Habib keeps his license up-to-date by renewing it every three years.
He also has several bartenders and other staff, including women, that are licensed for security if needed.
When asked why Habib said it all comes down to safety.
sa国际传媒淪afety is paramount. Isa国际传媒檒l use myself as an example, in 2019 I got punched in the eye, I got blindsided by an individual,sa国际传媒� Habib said. sa国际传媒淚 lost 50 per cent of vision in my left eye for nothing. Absolutely, nothing. There was no reason to do itsa国际传媒� Itsa国际传媒檚 one of those things that we donsa国际传媒檛 want that to happen to another staff member. Isa国际传媒檓 lucky that Isa国际传媒檝e still got some vision.sa国际传媒�
And itsa国际传媒檚 not just safety for staff, but for everyone who walks through the door.
IDs are scanned, pictures taken, and security pats patrons down for drugs and weapons.
sa国际传媒淭he basis for it is for public safety. If theresa国际传媒檚 somebody whosa国际传媒檚 flagged as a public safety risk itsa国际传媒檒l be on there and then they cansa国际传媒檛 come in, thatsa国际传媒檚 just the way it is. So, you donsa国际传媒檛 want to get banned as a public safety risk, because yousa国际传媒檙e not going in anywhere. Wesa国际传媒檙e not just talking North America, this system is in Australia and many other cities around the world. Itsa国际传媒檚 actually taking the world by storm and I think with great reason. Look at whatsa国际传媒檚 happened in the States, in the nightclub shootings and things like that. For everybody to have to be identified is a pretty important thing.sa国际传媒�
Habib says everyone deserves to have a good time and go home at the end of the night.
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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