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Drink Spiking


Recently the incidence of drink spiking in Bristol has become more common. For this reason it is now even more important to remain vigilant when out and about at night.

Looking after yourself:

  • The best advice is to trust no one
  • Be aware of strangers offering you drinks or other substances – NEVER accept a drink off someone you don’t know or trust -if you do choose to accept a drink off something make sure that you take it straight from the bar tender or see the bottle opened in front of you.
  • NEVER leave your drink UNATTENDED
  • NEVER go back to a drink that you’ve left or drink from drinks left by
    someone else.
  • Be careful when drinking out of wide mouth glasses – Tamper proof bottles or cans are recommended
  • If you’re drinking from a bottle/can, cover the top with your hands/fingers to stop anything from being dropped in
  • Don’t share or swap drinks with other people
  • Don’t leave your drinks with anyone
  • If you go to the loo, take your drink with you
  • If your drink looks/taste different, leave it!
  • If you begin to feel drunk after only a drink or two seek help from a
    trusted friend or a responsible member of the club staff and management.

Looking out for your friends:

It’s very easy to lose your friends on nights out – especially at the beginning of university when you don’t know people very well. Try to make sure you know how you and your friends are getting home at the end of a night – agree a time/meeting point if you’re likely to be separated and always make sure that someone else knows where you are.

I think I’ve had my drink ’spiked’, what should I do?

Be safe: get yourself to a place of safety: either get a trusted friend to take you home and get them to stay with you until the effects wear off or, if you’re alone or with strangers, go and find the landlord or member of the club management staff, tell them what you think has happened and ask them to help you.

Seek medical advice: contact out of hours GP or A&E as soon as you are
somewhere safe. Under no circumstances let a stranger or acquaintance offer to help you or take you anywhere including your own home!

You should also notify the police as ’spiking’ drinks is illegal and classed as a form of assault, so it will need to be investigated further.

Further information

Rape Crisis Federation – Tel: 0115 900 3560, http://www.rapecrisis.co.uk/
The Rape Crisis Federation act as a referral service to individuals who are seeking advice and/or support around the issues of rape and sexual abuse/assault by putting them in contact with their nearest/local rape and sexual abuse counselling service. Open Monday to Friday; 9am-5pm. An answer phone service is available at all other times, where someone will respond within 24 hours (except on weekends).

The National Drugs Helpline - Tel: 0800 77 66 00.
A free (except some mobile phones), and confidential help line that won’t show up on your phone bill. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Roofie Foundation – Tel: 0800 783 2980, www.roofie.com
The Roofie Foundation is a specialist agency operating in the area of Drug Rape. Open 24 hours a day.
Student health: 0117 3302720