
March’s Nightlife In New York: Celebrations Outshine Concerns
Saint Patrick’s Day is known as one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year. With celebrations happening in bars and restaurants across New York State, many people head out to enjoy time with friends.
A new study looked at violent crime connected to nightlife across the United States and found that some months are busier and riskier than others when it comes to incidents at bars and nightclubs.
March Sees the Most Nightlife Incidents
Researchers at Hartley Law looked at FBI violent crime data from the past ten years to see when and where incidents happen most often in nightlife settings. They looked at crimes reported at bars and nightclubs.
It showed that March has the highest average number of violent crimes in nightlife venues, with about 840 incidents per year nationwide. That is higher than any other month. October ranked second with an average of 816 incidents, while February and June were the months with the lowest numbers.
New York Ranks Among the Safer States
For New Yorkers, the results show that nightlife is safer compared to many other places. New York was 42nd out of 50 states when it comes to violent crime in bars and nightclubs.

Over the past ten years, there were 2,384 reported incidents in those types of venues across the state. When adjusted for population, that is about 12.18 incidents per 100,000 residents, placing New York on the safer end of the list.
How Other States Compare
The study found that North Dakota had the highest rate of nightlife-related violent crime when adjusted for population. On the other end of the scale, Pennsylvania recorded the lowest rate.
What This Means for Nights Out in New York
While nightlife incidents do happen, the study suggests that New York State ranks among the safer places in the country when it comes to violence at bars and nightclubs. With holidays like Saint Patrick’s Day bringing larger crowds to nightlife spots, experts say the best approach is simple: celebrate responsibly and look out for the people around you.
8 Things You Need in the Holiday Spirit of St. Patrick's Day
Gallery Credit: Mikael Donnovan
13 Country Songs With Lyrics About Luck for St. Patrick's Day
Gallery Credit: Jess

