I spent years bouncing some BIG bars. Talking drunks out of something stupid is never easy, but far easier than the alternative. (I'm not the baddest guy around but I'm pretty good at the "alternative" too) A guy I learned a lot from back in the day wrote several books on defense. If you can find a copies, Paladin press in Boulder Colorado published a few books by Marc "Animal" MacYoung. "Fists wits and a wicked right" and "cheap shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons" are two of his 6 books on self defense I strongly suggest reading. He has a very different writing style but like me the guy lived ending (not starting) bar brawls and fist fights. Last I knew he was head of security at a correctional institution. That should tell you something about his real world experience.