Drink Spiking, Rideshare Risks, and Human Trafficking—Is Broadway in Nashville Nonetheless Secure for Nation Music Followers?
Nashville’s Broadway strip has lengthy been the crown jewel of nation music nightlife. Each evening, neon lights glow over honky-tonks full of boot-stomping vacationers hoping for a brush with stardom with Celeb-owned bars like Blake Shelton’s “Previous Crimson” or Morgan Wallen’s “This Bar” drawing in nation followers like moths to flame.
However these days, an unsettling actuality has emerged—Broadway isn’t only a hotspot for music lovers anymore. It’s turning into a breeding floor for felony exercise, with disturbing stories of drugged drinks, human trafficking dangers, and suspicious rideshare encounters.
When a Evening Out In Nashville Turns Right into a Nightmare
If you happen to’ve scrolled by way of social media these days, you’ve most likely seen the flood of horror tales from folks, principally ladies, who went out on Broadway, solely to have their drinks spiked or discover themselves in terrifying conditions with rideshare drivers. These aren’t remoted incidents; they’re a part of a rising sample that has even prompted native musicians to talk out.
Nashville guitar participant Brad Henderson just lately posted a viral video detailing the hazards that each locals and vacationers face on Broadway. He compiled a set of first-hand accounts from a number of ladies who’ve woken up with no reminiscence of the evening earlier than, solely to piece collectively that they’d been drugged. Some barely escaped harmful conditions, whereas others had been cared for by their buddies or discovered by good Samaritans earlier than issues took a darker flip.
And it’s not simply the musicians elevating the pink flag. Information stations have highlighted the issue masking the issue victims have in laying blame and the legal guidelines Tennessee is making an attempt to enact to curb the issue, however it all looks like too little towards such a giant problem.
The issue made nationwide headlines final summer season when Missouri’s Riley Pressure went lacking on an evening out with buddies and was later discovered deceased within the Cumberland River. Surveillance footage and firsthand accounts described him as being closely intoxicated. Whereas his official post-mortem report indicated his explanation for demise was drowning whereas closely intoxicated, Catherine Barkley with The Sexual Assault Heart says many date rape medication depart your physique inside hours which is without doubt one of the greatest challenges in gathering statistics or holding perpetrators accountable. The testing for these substances may be very costly and sometimes emergency rooms don’t run these exams until a sexual assault has been dedicated, taking away a key alternative for proof in these circumstances.
Nashville Rideshare Dangers: When Your Driver Isn’t Who You Assume They Are
The hazard doesn’t cease whenever you depart the bar. A number of ladies have come ahead with chilling accounts of rideshare drivers appearing suspiciously—taking detours, refusing to finish rides, and even locking the doorways mid-route.
One lady narrowly escaped when she seen her driver altering the vacation spot repeatedly. She jumped out at a pink gentle, realizing too late that one thing was very unsuitable. One other Nashville resident just lately shared the place a driver launched some type of fuel throughout her trip and she or he needed to escape the car. Sadly, not everyone seems to be as fortunate. In every of those circumstances the ladies turned to regulation enforcement to file a report, however it’s unclear whether or not any motion was taken.
Predators in cities like Las Vegas and Miami have already been caught utilizing rideshare apps as a canopy for trafficking and assault, and these first-hand accounts present that Broadway seems to be following that very same harmful pattern.
So, What’s Being Accomplished About It?
Nashville regulation enforcement has elevated their presence on Broadway, and a few bar homeowners are implementing higher safety measures. There’s discuss of requiring bars to take further steps to guard patrons, like coaching workers to acknowledge indicators of drugging and enhancing surveillance techniques.
Some venues have launched “angel photographs,” a discreet manner for patrons to sign bartenders after they really feel unsafe. However is it sufficient? This suggests that the sufferer KNOWS they’re in a harmful scenario and has time to take motion earlier than the substance kicks in. This can be a nice plan for getting away from a harasser, however no protection in the case of covert drink spiking.
How You Can Defend Your self on Broadway: Security Ideas From WhiskeyChick
As a girl within the stay music enterprise (whilst a lowly music blogger), I’m at all times on alert whereas on the job when masking a stay live performance or pageant or fan occasion. Hell, whenever you go by the pen-name “WhiskeyChick” like I do, there’s certain to be photographs flowing freely wherever I’m going, which suggests I’ve to take my private security VERY critically each on and off the clock. If you happen to’re planning an evening out on Broadway, these are some security ideas I follow that might assist hold you out of hazard.
- Depart a Path: All the time inform somebody the place you’re going and whenever you get dwelling. Even higher, use Snapchat or Life360 to share your location in real-time. As my mother at all times stated, “Tell us what ditch to examine for those who come up lacking.”
- Defend Your Drink at All Prices: By no means settle for drinks from strangers or depart your drink unattended.
- Watch the bartender make your drink. If you happen to didn’t see it poured or opened, don’t drink it.
- Use a drink cowl. NightCap (not sponsored, simply sensible!) makes an ingenious and discreet drink cowl to stop something from being slipped into your cup. They also have a spring break giveaway on Instagram proper now. It’s a delicate, easy resolution that might prevent from a harmful scenario, and actually it’s so cheap it simply is sensible so as to add it to your arsenal. I actually assume bar homeowners needs to be shopping for their drink topping stickers in bulk and offering them by request at each bar in Nashville and past!
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- Tempo Your self—Don’t Get Too Drunk, Too Quick: The extra you drink, the much less conscious you turn out to be, and predators goal those that seem disoriented.
- Eat earlier than you drink. A full abdomen may also help sluggish alcohol absorption, making it more durable for somebody to benefit from you.
- Keep hydrated. Alcohol dehydrates you, and dehydration can intensify intoxication.
- All the time Have an Exit Plan: Keep on with your mates. Exit collectively, depart collectively.
- By no means depart a good friend behind. In the event that they’re too drunk or feeling unwell, ensure they get dwelling safely earlier than persevering with your evening.
@lawreneash PSA: dont be fooled by all the glamourous videos of Nashville This city that I love isnt safe for men or women when it comes to drinking downtown. Getting drugged can happen to ANYONE!! Just take percautions and try to stay safe out there! 💗 #nashvilletennessee #psa #safteyfirst #fypシ゚viral #fypシ
- Have money or a card on you. Maintain sufficient cash in your physique to get dwelling in case your purse or pockets goes lacking.
- Plan your trip dwelling upfront. If utilizing rideshare providers like Uber or Lyft set it up earlier within the day so there’s no fumbling at 2 AM. If in case you have a delegated driver, maintain them accountable and ensure they actually aren’t consuming.
- Set Up Emergency Contacts: Make sure that your lock display screen emergency contact is about to somebody who really solutions their cellphone. I get it… no one really TALKS on the cellphone anymore… that’s what texting is for, however for those who’re blacking out after one drink it’s apparent you’re going to wish some assist and it needs to be from somebody you belief.
- Belief Your Intestine: If one thing feels off, it most likely is. Get out of the scenario in any manner which you could—even when it means making a scene. Your security is extra vital than anybody else’s opinion.
Broadway Is at a Crossroads
Broadway has at all times been the place the place nation music goals come to life. However behind the glitz and glamour, an undercurrent of hazard threatens to tarnish its status. If one thing doesn’t change quickly, Music Metropolis would possibly discover itself with an excellent larger drawback—fewer guests keen to take the chance.
The town, bar homeowners, and nation music business insiders have to step up and take motion earlier than Broadway’s status as a enjoyable, secure vacation spot is completely broken. We’ve seen conditions like this occur throughout New York Metropolis’s sleazy Time Sq. period or the mob days that principally constructed Las Vegas, however in contrast to these locations, Nashville depends 99% on a primarily-wholesome tourism economic system. It’s all meals, drinks, music and nightlife there. If the city expects to maintain the followers and their cash coming in they HAVE to discover a approach to hold the dangerous actors out. Till then, keep vigilant, belief your instincts, and at all times prioritize security over time.
It’s clear that extra must be finished to make patrons, particularly ladies, really feel secure going out in Nashville nowadays. From native regulation enforcement to in-house safety at bars and venues, what do YOU assume needs to be finished higher to guard the general public?
*Disclaimer: I write about this business from my 500-mile-view within the foothills of the Ozarks on an internet site I personal free and clear from business strain. If of a bar, artist, or group that’s taking steps to assist curb this disaster, attain out to me and let’s inform that story collectively as a result of it’s one persons are actually dying to listen to. Cheers! – WC
