Consent: It’s as Easy as… Tea!

As part of a new anti-rape campaign, a British police department is promoting a video that explains the definition of consent using possibly the most British analogy imaginable: tea. And it’s surprisingly effective.

The video, originally created by Emmeline May, the blogger behind Rockstar Dinosaur Pirate Princess, and Blue Seat Studios, uses the example of offering someone a cup of tea to explain the concept of consent. Watch below and revel in the simple, yet unimpeachable, message.

The video is part of the Thames Valley Police and the Thames Valley Sexual Violence Prevention Group’s #ConsentIsEverything campaign, launched late last month to raise awareness about the legal definition of consent and to encourage survivors to come forward.

Said Detective Chief Inspector Justin Fletcher of the Thanks Valley police department,

It is the responsibility of individuals to make sure they have consent throughout sex. True consent can only be given freely by someone with the capacity to make a decision. To have sex with someone who is unable to give consent, or is agreeing under coercion, is to have sex without their consent. The campaign is just one of the ways in which Thames Valley Police has been working with our partners within Thames Valley Sexual Violence Prevention Group to support people affected by sexual assault and rape. Victims can have confidence in reporting to police. We will listen and they will be believed.

The campaign’s website also features a set of posters explaining the definition of consent in simple terms (below), resources for survivors, further information on what consent means and a step-by-step guide to understanding whether or not you’ve obtained a “yes.”

Said Fletcher, “Together we can prevent rape by ensuring everyone knows when they have sexual consent—and when they do not.”

All images via the #ConsentIsEverything website

About

Stephanie hails from Toronto, Canada. She is a Ms. writer, a master of journalism candidate and a hip hop dancer/instructor/choreographer. She got her start in feminist journalism at the age of 16 when she was a member of the first editorial collective at Shameless magazine—and she has never looked back.