Oct 20 • Jo Cox-Brown

Top Tips for Dealing with Drink-Spiking

‘Spiking’ is when alcohol or drugs are added to someone’s drink without their knowledge.

We have seen in the media reports about drugs being injected into people in nightclubs, although this has yet to be proven.

Spiking a drink is illegal and the maximum sentence, if found guilty, is 10 years in prison. If a robbery or sexual assault has taken place, the sentence will be even higher.

Whilst a large number of people do report this, it is believed that many more cases may go unreported, due to either memory loss or embarrassment.

However, for balance it’s also worth noting that some people may also feel like their drink has been spiked when they have had a bad reaction to alcohol, this could be caused by a variety of things such as dehydration, tiredness, not eating enough, and even being on a period can impact tolerance for alcohol and make a person feel drunker than they might normally feel.

There are many different reasons a drink may be spiked, from an unfunny prank by friends, intended robbery and sexual assault.

What is drink spiking and how can you protect your drink?

Drinking spiking can be when:
  • Extra alcohol is added to a drink without the person knowing.
  • Drugs are added to alcohol or soft drinks. These are often strong sedatives that can make someone feel very unwell, cause them to pass out, or—in extreme cases—be life-threatening.

How you can protect your drink from being spiked:
  • Never leave your drink unattended. If drinks aren’t allowed on the dancefloor or in the bathroom, finish yours first.
  • Stay with your drink when someone buys it. Go to the bar with them. Don’t let anyone bring a drink to you without you watching it being made.
  • Guard your drink. Keep your hand over it if you’re distracted. Bottles are safer than open glasses. You can also use drink covers like spikeys or NightCap.
  • Be alert to changes. Don’t drink it if it looks, tastes, or smells unusual. Warning signs: sudden fizzing, a change in colour or texture, a white powder at the bottom. If unsure, tell a friend or staff member and pour it away safely.
  • Look out for each other. Stick with friends and make sure you all get home safely. Don’t let anyone wander off with strangers. Share your plans—where you’re going, when you’ll be back, and how you’re getting home.

Extra protection tools:
  • Not in My Drink (test strips)
  • Under Cover Colors (nail polish that changes colour if it touches spiked drinks)
  • Xantus Drink Check (kits for testing drinks)
  • Anti-Drink Spiking Bottle Toppers NightCap Drink Covers

What are the signs?

With alcohol it’s easy to spot the signs however if a drug is used, the signs are a mixture of drunkenness and rapid intoxication. If someone is displaying the below symptoms and you’re concerned about them, make sure you stay with them, get them any medical attention they need and ensure they get home safely.

Intoxication in as little as 15 minutes and lasts for several hours. A number of the symptoms are similar to the effects of alcohol and that make it difficult to know if someone has had their drink ‘spiked’ – however, the main difference is how severe the symptoms are. While alcohol can severely affect someone, it often takes numerous drinks before that occurs. Drugs, on the other hand, can start affecting someone within a few minutes.

Symptoms can include:
  • Confusion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation
  • Loss of ability to communicate properly
  • Paranoia
  • Poor coordination
  • Unconsciousness

The response:  What should you do?

  1. Alert venue staff immediately. Tell a member of staff what has happened. Ask them to stay with you/your friend and make sure you are kept safe.
  2. Stay inside the venue. Do not leave alone. Do not go with friends-of-friends or people you don’t know.
  3. Call an ambulance right away. Tell the paramedics you believe the drink has been spiked. Medical staff need to know so they can act quickly.
  4. Report it to the police as soon as possible. Ideally, do this immediately. Many drugs leave the body within 12 hours, so testing quickly is vital.
  5. Record as many details as you can. Who you were with and what they looked like. What and where you were drinking. If anything was taken from you. Any unusual gaps in memory or unexplained injuries. Ask the venue to preserve CCTV and witness accounts.

Note: Spiking substances can affect memory, so writing things down quickly will help police investigate. 
Write your awesome label here.

Final note

If you’re a venue interested in our Drink Spiking Training, we deliver this both remotely and in person.

Contact us at hello@nighttimeeconomy.com.