Gardaí pioneering violence warnings on beer mats

An awareness campaign that warns city drinkers about the consequences of assault could be rolled out to pubs in County Galway.

The campaign, which contains warnings on beer mats about the dangers of assaults, is currently running in city centre bars and nightclubs. It is a Garda Síochána initiative, and is currently only in city pubs.

But Garda Chief Superintendent Tom Curley agreed it could be rolled out to pubs in rural towns and villages in the county.

He was responding to queries from Galway City Councillor Niall McNelis (Lab), who said the beer mats were an innovative way of targeting the message about assaults to a particular audience.

One side of the beer mat shows a picture of a young male, with the phrase ‘I had a fight after a match’ superimposed on it.

On the flip side of the beer mat drinkers are urged to: “Use your brain, not your fists”.

In smaller print, it adds: “An assault can wreck a victim’s life but it can also ruin your own future. You could lose your job, your ability to travel, even your freedom not to mention the distress it will cause you family.” 

The beer mats contain a Garda logo, and have been widely distributed in city hostelries.

Speaking at the recent Galway Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Cllr McNelis praised the initiative, and said if it prevented even one assault then it was worthwhile.

He said the beer mats were a good idea, and might deter young males from assaults after a few drinks.

Cllr McNelis said publicans in the city centre had embraced the initiative and he asked whether it could be extended into the county.

Chief Supt Curley agreed it was a good initiative and he saw no reason why it couldn’t be rolled out into Galway’s rural pubs.