Pubs are for everyone. The word pub is short for Public House. People should feel that term is valid irrespective of gender, sexuality and race. They are a community hub for all and a place where everyone, whatever their identity, should feel is safe.
Publicans who would like to let visitors know that their pub has a zero tolerance policy on abuse in any of its forms can now sign up to TEPA and, from 2019, gain a window sticker and a plot on a map on TEPA website to let people know that their pub doesn’t support homophobia, sexism or racism in any of its guises from neither its staff or it’s drinkers. Joining TEPA means the publican has a civic duty to act should they recognise abuse in their venue.
The Accreditation has been pioneered to offer all people the freedom to visit the nation’s finest pubs without trepidation and to remind the pub, beer and hospitality industry as a whole that inclusiveness is everyone’s responsibility.
“Social equality is a human right. Let the best pubs, bars and taprooms, run by the most accommodating, kind and friendly staff identify themselves and help all people remember that the value of pubs is as much what they represent as anything they serve across the bar,” said TEPA founder Jessica Mason.
BII Chairman Anthony Pender added: “Good pubs have always been an open and welcoming place for all whether it be for a quick pint after work right the way through to big celebrations. It’s great to see this message getting affirmed further with the setup of TEPA and I look forward to seeing wider and further recognition.”
TEPA will be open for submissions from publicans from September 2018 where after a shortlist will be drawn up and the first accredited TEPA venues will be visited and mapped before the close of the year.
From the spring of 2019, the TEPA map will become accessible to all – with its usefulness designed to help people navigate their way to places that are non-discriminatory.
For more information contact: Jessica Mason, Drinks Maven Ltd
Email: Jessica@drinksmaven.com or call: 07939 220485 or tweet: @drinksmaven
FAQ: About the Accreditation from Jessica Mason
How did the idea for TEPA begin?
For years I have written about pubs being a place for everyone and believed in what I’ve often termed “the social equality of beer” but a few months ago I read a piece entitled “Safe” in Original Gravity magazine by beer writer and broadcaster Emma Inch. It described her apprehension upon visiting new pubs for how, as a lesbian, she was made to feel unsafe. Reading her account made me feel saddened that pub experiences were sometimes not always positive for all people. It made me try to think of ways to combat that.
I thought about sexism at bars that I had experienced never first hand when out with friends or simply ordering a drink and the frustrations attached to having grown to be accepting of those.
It made me think about how, when the Brexit vote was publicised, how lots of people were victimised by racist verbal abuse while going about their day and how it made people feel.
I wanted to do something to try to turn this around. Nobody should be made to feel unsafe in a public house or indeed suffer any anxiety over going out to socialise. I knew I wanted to do something to change that. I immediately called up Inch to ask her opinion and she said: “It sounds fantastic” and “could have a big impact” so we discussed ways in which she could feed into TEPA by describing how it feels to constantly be negotiating your safety upon entering a pub for the first time.
Industry support & training
I met with the BBPA to talk through support for a website that gave the general public access to a map identifying pubs that were non-discriminatory. We discussed the process of accrediting a venue involving bars showing an interest in being assessed, followed by a paper entry for the accreditation on why they felt they should be considered.
At this point, discussions also took place with the BII on TEPA getting kite-marked and recognised as a part of a new kind of staff training. After talks with CPL online, it was decided that, potentially, a module could be added to bar staff training for how to deal with discrimination or any forms of abuse and what to do and when to step in to harmonise the situation and make the victim know they are supported by the venue.
The window sticker
Studio Novello worked to create an easily identifiable logo for TEPA with a window sticker that pubs, bars and taprooms could display proudly. The hand shape is representative of the venue being interested in all people irrespective of race, gender or sexuality. Really, a reminder that we are all human and need to remember that, irrespective of our differences, we are equal as people.
Other initiatives & the TEPA committee
After reading about Melissa Cole’s #EveryonesWelcome initiative, I contacted Cole to find a way to align the two ideas and have arranged talks about how to support the fight for anti-discrimination across the trade. At this early stage, Cole would be an excellent candidate for the ‘TEPA committee’ – a selection of people who can discuss best routes to gaining traction, funding and exposure for projects that support equal rights and combat abuse in any of its forms. Other initiatives that align well are encouraged to get in touch to feed into a wider debate within the committee.
Next stages & support
After talking about TEPA during the Imbibe Live show this week as well as discussing equality across the trade, it was wonderful to have so many people come to talk about ways to move things forwards.
If you would like to put yourself forwards as a potential venue interested in gaining a TEPA window sticker. We will update you as soon as we can. Committee members will be identified within the next month. Anyone interested in supporting the cause, please get in touch.