What is drink spiking?
Every year in the UK, hundreds of people are thought to be victims of having alcohol or drugs added to their drink without them knowing, this is known as Drink Spiking.
Alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks, but in some cases, so-called "date rape drugs" may be used to spike a drink.
A person’s drink can be spiked to make them more vulnerable for a variety of reasons, including theft, sexual assault, or as an attempted joke.
Because there are no official statistics it’s difficult to know the true extent of the crime. Often people don’t report drink spiking because they don’t remember details of the night or they feel embarrassed.
It can be a scary experience and it’s important to be able to recognise the signs your drink has been spiked or how to help someone you suspect has been a victim.
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Is drink spiking illegal?
Whist drink spiking might occur for several reasons, not all with the specific intent to commit a crime, whatever the reason, the act of drink spiking is illegal and can result in a maximum of 10 years in prison for anyone who's found guilty.
If an assault, rape or robbery has also taken place, the sentence will be even higher.
Sexual assault is an act that's carried out without the victim's active consent. This means they didn't agree to it, even if they have taken drugs or alcohol voluntarily.
Read more about rape and consent.
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What substances are used to spike drinks?
Alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks.
It can be added to a soft (non-alcoholic) drink without you knowing, or double measures can be used instead of singles.
Drugs used in drink spiking are often referred to as date rape drugs, although they're not always used for sexual assault.
Some examples of drugs that have reportedly been used for drink spiking include:
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tranquillisers, most often benzodiazepines, including Valium (diazepam) and Rohypnol
These drugs can be particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol because they combine to have a very powerful effect.
In extreme cases, it can lead to a coma or even death.
Drugs used to spike drinks may come in powder, tablet or liquid form, and don't always have a noticeable taste or smell.
See the A-Z of drugs on the Talk to Frank website for more information about illegal substances and their effects.
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How do I know if my drink's been spiked?
Most drugs used to spike drinks take effect within 30 minutes, and symptoms usually last for several hours. But if you pass out, it'll be hard to know the full effect. You may still feel some of the symptoms of a date rape drug after a night's sleep.
Although your symptoms will depend on which substance has been used, they usually include some of the following:
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lowered inhibitions
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difficulty concentrating or speaking
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loss of balance and finding it hard to move
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visual problems, particularly blurred vision
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memory loss (amnesia) or "blackouts"
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feeling confused or disorientated, particularly after waking up (if you have been asleep)
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paranoia (a feeling of fear or distrust of others)
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hallucinations (seeing, hearing or touching things that aren't there) or having an "out of body" experience
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nausea and vomiting
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unconsciousness
It is worth noting that excessive intoxication from drinking alcohol also presents with many of the above symptoms, and you should always be mindful to drink in moderation and understand you limits.
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How do I avoid drink spiking
If your drink has been spiked, it's unlikely that you'll see, smell or taste any difference. Some drugs, such as GHB, may taste slightly salty or smell unusual.
If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, seek help immediately.
The following steps may help prevent drink spiking:
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Never leave your drink unattended, and keep an eye on your friends' drinks.
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Don't accept a drink from someone you don't know or trust.
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Consider sticking to bottled drinks and avoiding punch bowls or jugs of cocktails.
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Don't give out your address to someone you have just met.
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If you think your drink's been tampered with, don't drink it – tell a trusted friend or relative immediately.
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Before going out, let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to be home.
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Make plans for your journey home.
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Avoid taking expensive equipment with you or anything that could be a target for thieves.
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If you're traveling abroad, be aware of the local area and where you can find help.
Winchester Student Union can provide plastic stopper devices, called ‘spikees’, which can reduce the risk of your bottled drink being spiked.
The Union can also provide you with a testing kit for the most common drugs used to spike drinks – just ask at the bar or visit our Advice Centre.
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What is the Union doing to prevent drink spiking?
Winchester Student Union has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on the possession of any categorised, banned or restricted substance within our events and commercial premises. We have worked with the University to create a campus Drug & Alcohol policy which we follow.
The Union works closely with the University and the Police to prevent and reduce the impact of drugs on campus and part of this partnership involves the sharing of information, CCTV footage of incidents and pushing for prosecution where possible.
As part of this, we are launching a campaign, SpikeAware, aimed at both at educating student about drink spiking and minimising the risks of drink spiking occuring on campus.
We have elevated our security protocol across our venues for the foreseeable future in a number of ways. One side effect of this will potentially be an impact on the speed of entry into our venues, but as it is essential that you feel safe when going out at the Student Union, we hope that we can count on your understanding.
We will also be increasing resources such as testing kits, spikes and posters, to ensure that our students have access to preventative knowledge and guidance on what to do if drink spiking is suspected. We are also hoping that this will encourage victims of suspected drink spiking, or their friends, to report instances to the Union and relevant authorities.
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What should I do if I think my drink's been spiked?
First, tell someone you completely trust, such as:
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a close friend
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a relative
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A member of Union staff
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a medical professional
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the police
If you aren't with anyone, call someone you trust and get to a safe place. Ask to use a phone if yours has been stolen.
If you need urgent help, call 999. Be wary of accepting help from a stranger and don't leave with someone you don't know.
If you can pass the suspect drink to a member of staff as they may be able to test the drink for you.
If you feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to your nearest A&E department. Tell the medical staff that you think your drink's been spiked.
Arrange for a trusted friend or relative to take you home and stay with you until the drugs have fully left your system.
Report it to the police as soon as you can. They may ask you to provide blood and urine samples.
Most drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken (the date rape drug GHB leaves the body within 12 hours), so it's important to be tested as soon as possible.
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What should I do if I think my friend has been spiked?
As often the person who has been spiked may not be able to act to protect themselves, you can help your friend and minimise the harm and distress caused by such an incident – look after your mates by;
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Telling a manager, security officer or member of staff
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If you can pass the suspect drink to a member of staff as they may be able to test it.
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Stay with your friend and keep them calm and talking
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Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates or directed to do so by venue staff
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Don’t let your friend go home on their own
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Don’t let your friend leave the venue with someone you don’t know or trust
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If possible, try and prevent them drinking more alcohol as this could lead to more serious problems
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Physical assault or robbery after a spiked drink
If you have been physically assaulted, robbed, or both, you should report this to the police and where practical to a member of venue staff.
They'll want any information you have about your attackers, such as:
- if you knew them
- what they looked like
- the circumstances that led to the attack
- what happened during the attack
- what was taken
The police will need to keep a record of your injuries, and you may need to receive medical treatment.
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Sexual assault after drink spiking
If you have been sexually assaulted, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.
You may need tests to determine whether you have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or whether you're pregnant.
You don't have to report an attack to the police immediately if you don't want to.
You can contact any of the following places for advice, treatment or referral to a specialist service (such as a forensic examination):
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a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis
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the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre national freephone helpline on 0808 802 9999 (12 to 2.30pm and 7 to 9.30pm every day of the year)
Any forensic evidence that's obtained during tests can be stored while you decide whether to report the attack to the police.
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