Bars, police urge safety as New Year’s Eve crowds fill Coachella Valley
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - Bars along Arenas District main road are preparing for one of the busiest nights of the year, urging customers to celebrate responsibly as New Year’s Eve crowds fill the desert.
Bar owners say staff training and early preparation are key to preventing problems before they start.
At Quadz Palm Springs, co-owner Jim Osterberger, said staff members are trained to recognize potential issues and step in early to keep customers safe.
"Our staff knows how to make our customers enjoy their evenings safely. We were the first bar in Palm Springs 20 years ago to require our staff to be alcohol awareness trained before it became a state law," Osterberger said. "So that being said, we want to be sure everyone has a good time."
Sgt. Abe Plata of the Indio Police Department encourages people to plan a safe ride home using rideshare services or taxis.
"If you're going to go out and to a party or an event and you know you're going to consume an alcoholic beverage, take a designated driver with you who's not going to be consuming alcohol," Plata said.
As celebrations continue into the night, bar operators and law enforcement said the goal is to welcome the new year while making sure everyone is safe.
