San Francisco, CA – January 22, 2026

The Night’s Watch, a new San Francisco-based nightlife advocacy organization, will officially launch with a free public event at The Stud on Thursday, February 26, 2026, spotlighting how proactive nightlife safety measures can position San Francisco as a premier nightlife destination. 

The Night’s Watch’s mission is to empower the nightlife community to challenge the culture of sexual and gender-based violence through outreach, education, and advocacy, particularly in spaces where harmful behaviors such as drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) have too often been normalized as part of nightlife culture. The Night’s Watch is guided by an advisory committee of longtime nightlife advocates with backgrounds in event-based harm reduction, venue operations, and city planning and nightlife management. 

The launch comes as San Francisco leadership, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, has emphasized downtown revitalization as a central civic priority, while state lawmakers propose and pass legislation that shapes the future of nightlife safety. Recent measures addressing drink spiking, alongside proposals to allow extended alcohol service hours under specific conditions, underscore the need for supplementary safety frameworks that are proactive as nightlife activity grows. 

“San Francisco has both an opportunity and a responsibility to continue its legacy as a leader in entertainment by modeling a comprehensive approach for safer and inclusive nightlife, one which shifts the culture that necessitates these laws in the first place,” said Elizabeth Dreeson, Program Director of The Night’s Watch, in an article published by KALW Music. 

“With the new [drink spiking] laws applying exclusively to bars and nightclubs, venues are in a unique position to proactively challenge this culture, and they have a responsibility to mitigate the risks that come with serving alcohol. Staff members are on the front lines; it’s important that they have a baseline set of skills around awareness and intervention so they can navigate disclosures with compassion, discretion, and effective assistance.”

The program is modeled after successful global initiatives such as Good Night Out Vancouver, Bristol Nights, and Outsmart NYC to offer a coordinated, citywide approach that supports venues, staff, and patrons across nightlife settings. As an approved facilitator of Good Night Out Vancouver’s internationally renowned sexual violence prevention program, The Night's Watch will offer hands-on workshops, among other assets, to give bar and nightclub staff practical tools to prevent harm. 

The launch event itself will model what a safer nightlife experience can feel like—from the tone of the invitation and the way guests enter the space, to the messaging visible throughout the venue and discreet tools to ask staff for help—demonstrating how venues can facilitate positive experiences that keep people coming back for more. 

Event Details:Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026Time: 6 pm - 8 pmLocation: The Stud, San FranciscoRSVP Details Available on Eventbrite

For more information about The Night’s Watch, visit our website. 

Media Contact: Elizabeth DreesonProgram DirectorThe Night’s Watchthenightswatchsf@gmail.com

by Elizabeth dreeson

Elizabeth Dreeson