Drink spiking is a serious crime and carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence.
Don’t be a perpetrator of drink spiking - you have the responsibility not to be a perpetrator of crime and to do your part to keep everyone safe. Where someone has been spiked the person responsible is the person who added something to their drink not the victim.
1 in 10 students have experienced spiking nationally, and is reported to occur more frequently at private parties than in licenced venues
We all have a part to play in keeping each other safe and reducing the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs; not only by taking sensible precautions on nights out, but also by challenging any suspicious behaviour. Whether you know them or not, if you suspect an individual is spiking drinks let venue staff know of your concerns.
There are a few simple steps we can all take to have a safe night out:
- Monitor your alcohol intake and stay in control
- Stay together with friends
- Have plans for getting out/home
- Make sure your phone is charged
What to do if you think you or a friend have been spiked:
- Speak to a member of staff at the venue as soon as you can — they want you to be safe and should be trained to help
- Stay with them, keep talking to them and reassuring them that you’re getting help
- Encourage them to avoid taking any more drugs including alcohol
- Prevent them from leaving the venue alone or with anyone you don’t trust and who can’t prove they know them well
- Report the incident to Surrey Police
If you are concerned you may have been spiked and are looking for general health advice, you should contact your GP.
You can find more information via the Drinkaware website.
If you need to talk to someone about this please contact Wellbeing Support or the Students' Union Advice Centre