Drink spiking prevention cast aside as bars focus on other issues

Anti-drink spiking products are being introduced in bars around the world, but New Zealand bars and clubs are yet to jump on the band wagon. As clubs and bars take time to educate staff about sexual assault prevention, drink spiking prevention has taken a back seat.

Drink spiking is when someone puts drugs or alcohol into a drink without the person knowing, usually at a club or bar. The drugs known as ‘date rape drugs’ are often dangerous and mind-altering. Brands like Nightcap, StopTopps, Spikeys, and Undercover Colours make anti-drink spiking products like reusable or disposable cup covers and drink testers. Straws that change colour when a drug is detected are in the works for retail.

Matt Mclaughlin, owner of Wellington’s Panhead, Iron Horse and Moustache Dive Bar (formally known as Danger Danger) said it does not use any anti-drink spiking products. “We’re probably looking at the bigger picture and looking for other things that we can monitor and others ways we can help with sexual offenders.” He said while drink spiking does happen, “Sexual assaults are more than likely happening cause people are too boozed rather than the fact that their drinks have been spiked.”

Mclaughlin is a facilitator and trainer for the ‘Don’t Guess the Yes’ sexual assault campaign. The campaign focuses on training bar and club staff around alcohol consumption and sexual consent, with staff learning to monitor and respond to inappropriate behaviour. “We’re looking for men buying girls drinks without being asked to. We’ve heard of instances of people coming up to the bar and asking for five shots of tequila and one of water and actually that’s not on.” Mclaughlin said many Wellington businesses are getting involved, with 60 to 100 people at training twice a year.

“There's probably other things that we feel are better to monitor than drink spiking.” However, Mclaughlin said anti-drink spiking products would “without a doubt” be something to think about using.

Wellington Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons has advocated against sexual violence in the city. She said, “Every time a drink is spiked, people are at serious risk and bar staff and bystanders both have a role to play in keeping people safe.” She said many bars do take responsibility to prevent drink spiking, “but there is more work to do”. Fitzsimon said, “It would be useful if all bars agreed to train their staff on spotting and stopping spiking and supporting victims [as] well.”

Aryan Soin, owner and manager of Auckland’s Sapphire Nightclub said in terms of anti-drink spiking products, “I don’t think there's anything available in the country for us to use without it being really expensive.”

After being open on and off over the pandemic, he said anti-drink spiking products is not something it has put much thought into. But it's something it can look at in the future. “What I see girls doing at the moment, that works is they’ll just get a tissue paper and poke their straw through, so it does the same thing.”

Soin said, “At the end of the day I want everyone at my venue to be safe, if we can start getting those drink covers, we can do it.”

“I think the straws is a really good idea if they can be made inexpensive enough for the bars to purchase them.” He said, “If the government was to subsidize or provide something, I think that would be a really good way of doing it.”

While the club doesn’t use any anti-drink spiking products, “if there's anyone who needs to leave their drink, we’ll take it for them. We tell people not to leave their drinks lying around.” The bar also does bag searches upon entry.

Jose Ubiaga, owner of Dakota Bar, The Residence, and The Establishment in Wellington also said it does not use anti-drink spiking products. “Thats a tough one to try and stop people from spiking drinks apart from being able to monitor people’s behaviours and how quickly they can change.” All of Ubiaga’s staff have gone to the ‘Don’t Guess the Yes’ trainings which has made a big difference in sexual assault prevention. He said drink spiking was a tough thing to prove in a busy bar. “Sometimes they claim their drinks been spiked and in actual fact they’ve just had a couple of shots and it hit them fast.”

“If we do get notified that someone's drink has been spiked, we can go through cameras and have a look at that sort of stuff.” While it wasn’t something he had previously put much thought into, Ubiaga said he would “absolutely” consider implementing cup covers or straws that change colour when a drink has been spiked. “We’re always keen to try and keep a safe environment for our clientele.”