Japan: Bar Coasters Drawing the Connection Between Drinking and Domestic Violence

Story here. Excerpt:

'As the video above shows, images on these “Violent Coasters” were created with a special thermochemical ink. When patrons set their ice-filled drinks down on one of the squares, the cold temperature of the glass causes the picture of a woman to transform, with cuts and bruises appearing on her face.

Accompanying the image are the words, “Don’t let excessive drinking end in domestic violence.” That will be a welcome message to the roughly 33 percent of women and 17 percent of men in Japan who have experienced some kind of domestic violence, according to a 2006 survey from Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau. 

Whether drink coasters in a bar are effective in addressing such a serious and significant problem remains to be seen. But the guys in the video certainly seem shocked by the coasters’ change, so let’s hope these coasters spark conversations that raise awareness and change behavior.'