Is Denver’s Nightlife Actually Safe for College Students?

Vanessa Candito, Guest Writer from Global Human Rights Advocacy 

Note: This article was written by a student of Dr. Meghan Cohen, in the class, Global Human Rights Advocacy. The Highlander is proud to serve as a platform for guest contributions and encourages collaboration between our community and our publication. 

Every weekend, students from Regis University, University of Denver, and Metropolitan State University of Denver head downtown to Denver’s LoDo, RiNo, and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Ubers swarm the city and lines wrap around buildings glowing with neon signs. For a lot of students, nightlife is part of the college experience, a way to celebrate finishing a hard week, meet new people, and feel grown up in a new city. But there’s an uncomfortable possibility that doesn’t get talked about enough, is Denver’s nightlife actually safe for college students? The honest answer is complicated.

On paper, Denver looks safe compared to other major cities. There’s usually a noticeable police presence in busy areas. Most bars have bouncers who check IDs thoroughly and regularly. The buses run connecting campuses to downtown. The city has put money into making sure there is some safety and it has worked as violent crime has decreased. Most nights end without issues. Most students go out, have fun, and get home safely.

Some people argue that concerns about safety are over exaggerated. They say that college students are adults who make their own choices. If someone drinks too much, walks off alone, or doesn’t plan a ride home, that’s not the city’s fault. Compared to cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, Denver doesn’t consistently have national headlines from nightlife violence. From that perspective, the issue isn’t Denver, it’s personal responsibility.

There’s truth to that. Alcohol clouds judgment and staying with friends, pacing drinks, and planning transportation in advance lowers risk. A 2022 study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that college students who engage in heavy drinking are more likely to experience assault, injury, and academic difficulties. Students who take those steps are far less likely to end up in dangerous situations. Personal choices matter. But narrowing the solution to “just be responsible” ignores the reality of college culture.

Denver has built a strong presence around breweries, bar crawls, and bottomless drinks for low prices. Drink specials and themed nights are meant to encourage heavy consumption. Peer pressure is real, especially for first year students trying to make friends. Expecting 18 to 22 year olds to always make perfect decisions in crazy energy and alcohol heavy environments isn’t realistic. That’s not an insult to students, it's real life and we have all witnessed it.

Transportation is another factor. While the buses are helpful, the late night bus schedules can be limited. After midnight, students often rely on Ubers or end up walking home which can be a long distance. Downtown streets can feel very different at 1:30 a.m. than they do at 6 p.m. A 2023 article from The Denver Post reported that downtown Denver businesses and police continue to acknowledge concerns about crime late at night and public safety in busy areas. Poor lighting in certain areas, crowded sidewalks, and foot traffic create times for theft. Car break ins and phones being stolen have been issues in downtown. Even if violent crime isn’t major, that doesn’t mean risk does not exist.

There’s also the issue that barely ever makes major news headlines, harassment and sexual assault. These issues are often not reported, especially when alcohol is involved. Universities across the country, including Regis, continue to expand Title IX knowledge because risks in social settings are real. The absence of viral stories does not mean the absence of danger.

Safety shouldn’t rely solely on the idea that “nothing bad will happen.” It should be something actively practiced and talked about. Right now, most safety conversations happen during freshman orientations. After that, talking about it goes away. Students are encouraged to explore Denver, but educating about how to have a safe nightlife besides “don’t drink too much” is small. Why not have small workshops each semester? Why not partner with downtown venues to promote safety measures taken for night life?

If the question is whether Denver nightlife is safe, the better answer is that it depends on preparation and knowledge. For students who go out with a plan, stay together, and watch out for one another, Denver can be pretty safe. For those who do not know the environment or assume nothing will happen to them, danger increases quickly.

The reality is that nightlife is part of college culture, whether we like it or not. Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make students safer. But having honest conversations might. Denver isn’t a a major danger zone, but it’s not perfect either. It’s a real city with real risks. The Regis community should treat it that way not with fear, but with awareness.