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The party season may be in full swing, but sadly alcoholic beverages have become a familiar danger to revelers in the UK, with one in four people saying they have fallen victim to this dangerous crime.
According to a St John Ambulance survey of 2,000 people, a quarter of people aged 18 to 43 felt they had “definitely” been attacked.
Another study, carried out by the charity Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University, found that 2.2 per cent of adults had added alcoholic drinks in the previous 12 months. This is equivalent to 1.2 million, an alarming figure.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of Drinkaware, says: “Anyone can suffer spikes in any environment. And, more worryingly, 90 per cent of people who believe they have been drugged do not report it to the police.
The run-up to Christmas is full of opportunities for fun, but also hidden dangers. So follow our expert guide on how to stay safe this festive season…
One in four people say they have been a victim of alcoholic beverages, according to a survey
FIRST, INVESTIGATE
“Look for venues that are taking an active stance on rising beverages when it comes to protecting their customers, with specific policies in place,” Tyrell says. Look at the websites of the venues you are considering and choose where to spend the night knowing that your chosen venue is actively trying to keep you safe, with CCTV and door staff to help protect you.
BOTTLES ARE BETTER
While we know not to leave our drinks unattended while in the bathroom or dancing, Tyrell advises drinking only from a bottle. “It’s best to always drink from a bottle, as it will be easier to carry with you,” he says. Or ask the bar if they have drink covers or bottle caps to protect your drinks. If you give up your drink, it may go away anyway, since training to increase drinking tends to be about getting rid of unattended drinks.
Sylvia Oates, chief executive of hospitality brand Six Till Six and ambassador for Ask For Angela, the national scheme to help anyone feeling vulnerable on a night out, says: “While we all know not to accept drinks from strangers , and only leave your drink with someone you know well; it’s still essential to stay alert to the dangers of new friendships. For example, would you really trust your safety to a friend of a friend you barely know or just met?
Sylvia Oates, of hospitality brand Six Till Six, says it is crucial for revelers to be alert to the dangers posed by new acquaintances when it comes to alcoholic drinks.
BE CLEAR WITH FRIENDS
Firstly, there needs to be more focus on preventing people from increasing their activity levels and often incidents occur much closer to home than one might imagine. Tyrell says there is a high proportion of people who are attacked by someone they know, often as a prank. The Metropolitan Police says: ‘Criminals sometimes shoot as a prank spike or to see what happens. But finishing can be a terrifying experience.” Binge drinking doesn’t just involve drugs: it can mean adding more alcohol to a drink. “Increasing may involve giving someone alcohol without their knowledge or more alcohol than they expected,” the Met says. And if you’ve already consumed alcohol, adding more without your knowledge could push you over the edge. This can be dangerous, especially if you are taking medication, have already had a lot to drink, or are allergic to the added contents. “Let’s talk about the fact that it’s not fun to add more alcohol to other people’s drinks,” Oates says, highlighting the dangers. And the same goes for drugs, the outcome of which can be fatal.
FIND THE SIGNS
Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption, so you can monitor each other. ‘If you feel dizzy, sick or confused, unusually drunk or experience disorientation and memory loss, speak to someone you are with or the staff at the venue so they can call a family member or get you a taxi. Or call the police, who are now trained to deal with spike incidents,’ says Oates.
The Ask for Angela initiative, a project implemented in thousands of locations across the country, aims to provide a discreet lifeline for people who believe they are in danger. This involves using the keyword ‘Angela’ to signal to staff that they need help. However, a BBC News undercover investigation has shown that some London pubs, bars and clubs are not enforcing the safety plan and investigators who asked about ‘Angela’ were greeted with blank stares as many employees did not recognize the keyword. ‘But any bar or licensed premises has a legal duty to help anyone who feels ill. So even if you don’t use the code word, just ask for help and they’ll have to look after you and make sure you’re safe and not in danger,’ says Oates.
Some places will have testing kits to check if you have been drugged. However, Oates warns, test kits are not very reliable and do not test everything. ‘If you’re already drinking, how do you prove that more alcohol has been poured into you? And while it is easier to prove that drugs are added, this depends on testing before the drugs leave your system. “In fact, the only way to reliably test for spikes is to send a urine sample for forensic testing to a laboratory within 24 hours, which would have to be done by the police or a hospital,” says Oates. .
Spikes occur for various reasons. For some people, nothing happens afterward, while for others, sexual crimes or theft may occur. But the fact is that shooting is a crime and can leave victims with lasting problems. According to government research, many victims experience mental health problems and anxiety when being pricked, with a range of emotions including shame, loss of confidence, guilt and trauma.
IF THE WORST HAPPENS…
Spiker is illegal and carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison. However, if an incident is reported, there is currently no single offense that covers enrichment, with a range of more general offenses potentially being used to prosecute perpetrators. If a robbery, sexual assault, or other crime occurred, the sentence may be even longer. And recent news that the Government plans to make adding alcohol to a drink a specific criminal offense is very welcome, as it will make it easier to process claims and ultimately offer better protection to the partying public.
In cases where someone is stuck with a needle and injected with medication without their consent, it may result in the need to be tested for some time for transmitted diseases. However, needle sticks are rare and the Met says it is almost impossible to inject drugs into someone’s body without them realizing it.