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Going out with friends for a night of drinking and dancing can be a fun and exciting way to unwind. However, the party lifestyle can come with a serious risk: spiking your drinks.
This means adding substances such as drugs or alcohol to another person’s drink without their knowledge or consent. It’s a dangerous tactic that can result in serious harm, including assault, robbery, or even death.
It’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your friends so you can enjoy your night without worrying about potential dangers. We’ll look at the risks associated with spiking drinks, how to spot the signs of a spiked drink, and how to stay safe while enjoying your night out.
Beverage Adulteration: Steps to Stay Safe
Prepare for a rainy day: Before going to a bar or club, it’s important to have a plan. This includes arranging transportation to and from the venue, letting a trusted friend or family member know where you are, and how to contact them in an emergency.
Watch your drinks: Keep an eye on your drink and don’t leave it unattended. If you do, don’t drink from it. If you have to turn around (for example to have a conversation), cover the top of your drink with your hand to prevent someone from putting something in it. This includes watching your friend’s drinks.
Only accept drinks from trusted sources: Be careful about accepting drinks from strangers or people you don’t know well. If someone buys you a drink, either watch the bartender make the drink or accompany them to the bar to watch them order.
Trust your instincts: If something doesn’t feel right or comfortable, it’s important to trust your instincts and walk away from the situation. Don’t feel obligated to stay in a situation or drink alcohol if your brain says, “Well, better not.”
Trust and follow your friends: If your friend expresses concern or discomfort about a situation (or shows signs of excessive drinking and needs to be taken home safely), listen to them and take their concerns seriously. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
General safety tips

Be aware of your surroundings: Be aware of who’s around you. Stay in well-lit areas, don’t be alone with people you don’t know or trust, and avoid secluded areas.
Be wary of strangers: While it’s okay to talk to new people and make new friends, it’s important to be cautious and understand people’s intentions. Don’t share personal information with people you’ve just met or go to unfamiliar places.
Stay connected with friends: It’s always good to be with friends, especially in an unfamiliar place. Look out for each other and make sure everyone gets home safely.
Limit alcohol intake: Alcohol can impair your judgment and make you more vulnerable to danger. Try to limit your alcohol intake so you can remember to keep an eye on your drinks and your friends’ cocktails.
Install a security app on your phone: There are several safety apps you can download on your phone that can help you stay safe in a bar or club. Some apps allow you to send emergency messages to pre-selected contacts, while others can send an SOS signal to the police.

Keep your phone charged: Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave home so you can stay connected and call for help if needed. It’s a good idea to have a spare battery charger in your bag.
Please use social media with caution: Avoid posting social media check-ins or location updates, as it could reveal your location to strangers or even people you know – statistics show that attacks can also happen to people we know well.
Learn some self-defense techniques: Learning some basic defensive moves can give you confidence and help you protect yourself if someone tries to hurt you. There are also websites online that sell “defense kits” for women that include everything from maces to keychain spikes.
Avoid drinks with unfamiliar tastes or smells: If a drink tastes or smells unusual, do not drink it. This may indicate that the drink has been adulterated with drugs or other harmful substances.
Don’t share drinks: Sharing drinks with friends or strangers increases your risk of becoming a victim of drink spiking. Always order your own drinks and always keep them in your own hand.
BYOB: Consider bringing your own drinks to the bar or club (if allowed), such as sealed bottles of water or non-alcoholic drinks. This can help you avoid accepting drinks from strangers or having your glass spilled.
Beverage Adulteration Testing

There are several products on the market that can help detect if something is in your drink — or just protect it. But it’s important to note that while these products are helpful, they’re not foolproof and may not detect all Types of drugs available for spiking.
Drink Cover: A drink cap is a small lid or disc that goes over the opening of a drink to prevent someone from spiking it. Some drink caps even change color when they come into contact with a laced drink. They work because it makes it more obvious that someone is tampering with your drink.
Test Strips: These are small strips that can be dipped into a drink. If they detect the presence of drugs like GHB or ketamine, they change color.
Testing coasters: These coasters have test strips on them. You can place your drink on the coaster and use it to test if there is any drug in the drink.
Personal testing equipment: These are small devices that you can carry with you and use to test drinks. They usually use some kind of “reagent” to detect the presence of the drug, similar to the reagent on a test strip.
Bartender’s Guidelines
Did you know that there are many “signs” that bartenders can recognize when a customer needs help?
But what does this have to do with drugging? Well, it all comes back to trusting your instincts. If a stranger keeps trying to offer you a drink or follows you around (or even gets too close for you to feel comfortable with), you shouldYou can go up to the bartender and use one of the codes. Or, if they see something you don’t have, they might use a code on you.
It’s also a way to get yourself out of a harassment (or worse) situation in a discreet manner – because if handled directly, bouncer will tell someone to stop bothering others or kick them out of the bar, An alcohol abuse environment can easily escalate Avoid fights that could injure people or even bystanders. All of these rules are ways to get people to safety quietly.
Here are some common ones – but remember they are not universal and not everyone will be able to identify them.

“Angel Shooting” – This is a code word used to alert the bartender that a woman needs help without raising suspicion among the men around her. When a woman orders an Angel drink, the bartender will know that she needs help, such as asking her to take her home or call the police.
“May I help you?” – This is code words bartenders use when asking women if they need help. Bartenders may use a specific tone or wording to show they care, which can help women feel more comfortable asking for help.
“Do you need me to call a taxi for you?” – They may use this to offer assistance to women who feel unsafe or uncomfortable. By offering to call a taxi or a friend, bartenders can help women get out of the bar quickly and safely.
“Are you meeting anyone tonight?” – This feature is used to determine if a woman is alone or with someone she may be uncomfortable with. Based on the woman’s response, the bartender can decide if further action is needed to ensure her safety.
“Have you tried our new mocktails?” – If a bartender suspects a woman is drugged or intoxicated, they will offer her a non-alcoholic drink. This can help women stay alert and avoid further harm.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable?” – This is code for bartenders to offer help to a woman who seems uncomfortable or unsafe. The bartender may offer to escort her to a car, call a taxi or a friend, or help her find a safe place to wait.
“The bathroom code is 555” – Some bars or clubs have restroom codes that can be used to signal to staff that they need help. For example, if a woman says the code “555” when asking for a restroom key, this can alert the bartender that she needs help without raising the suspicion of the man she’s with.
Drink adulteration – what to do if it happens

Know the signs: Knowledge is essential. Signs of alcohol intoxication can vary, but some common symptoms include feeling Dizziness, disorientation or confusion, trouble speaking or moving, or feeling extremely sleepyIf you experience any of these symptoms, seek help immediately. Your friends should be able to recognize these signs, too.
Get Medical Help: If this does happen, seek medical help immediately. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call an ambulance if necessary. Bar staff can also help – and since you’ll be out with friends, they can take responsibility for making sure you’re taken to hospital.
Preserve evidence: If you can, keep any evidence that might help identify the person who spiked the drink. This might include the drink itself, the glass it was served in, or anything else that might have come in contact with the drink, such as a napkin.
Report an incident: Report the incident to the police or the bar or club management. This can help prevent the person who spiked your drink from spiking you or someone else again.
Beverage Adulteration – Final Thoughts
Spiking your drink is a serious problem and can be very dangerous for anyone hanging out with friends. It’s important to recognize the signs and take steps to prevent it from happening. By being vigilant, you can help reduce the risk of someone becoming a victim, regardless of gender, age or location.
However, It’s important not to let the fear of having your drink spiked take away from the fun of a night out. By taking a few precautions, you can still have a good time while prioritizing the safety of you and your friends. Remember to trust your instincts so we can keep having a good time.
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