Drink Spiking

Drink Spiking - Information Note

Everyone has a right to feel safe on a night out, and the hospitality sector prioritises their safety and welfare, doing everything we can to protect this right. Whilst incidents are extremely rare, when drink spiking (or other vulnerability issues) occur, we take every case extremely seriously. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment so that all our customers can enjoy a fun night out.

Many venues within the wider hospitality sector have door staff, established search procedures, staff training to identify problems before they occur and training on how to offer support. Venues also have CCTV, and many of them will have metal detectors and other safeguarding measures in place. The Licensing Act also allows these measures to be required through legal conditions on a venue's licence where appropriate and proportionate, and conditions are in place in some venues (some operators will do so voluntarily as a matter of course).

Our industry takes the safety of our customers extremely seriously. Vulnerability and wider customer safety (including reports of drink spiking) remains an ongoing focus of the sector.

This factsheet is intended to bring together in one place the resources developed and made available by both the Government and a wide range of organisations, to bolster the work already ongoing and ensure our venues remain the safest places to enjoy a night out.

What is drink spiking?

Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 lists a number of examples of spiking:

• Putting alcohol into someone's drink without their knowledge or permission
• Putting prescription or illegal drugs into an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink without their knowledge or permission
• Injecting another person with prescription or illegal drugs without their knowledge or permission 2
• Putting prescription or illegal drugs into another person's food without their knowledge or permission
• Putting prescription or illegal drugs into another person's cigarette or vape without their knowledge or permission

As shown above, drink spiking can be defined as adding a substance to someone's drink without their knowledge. Alcohol is the most common substance to be added, but illegal or legal drugs are other substances that might also be used. This is illegal, and there are a number of different criminal offences that such an action falls under. Any motivation for drink spiking - be it for criminal purposes or any other reason - should not be tolerated as it is a crime.

In addition to drink spiking occurrences, there have been some reports of criminal activity involving needles being used to injure and/or inject customers. Whilst the numbers of such reports remain low, they further underline the need to ensure that welfare and safety of customers remains a key focus for operators.

What should I do to prevent drink spiking in my premises?

There are many resources available (listed below) and actions that can be taken, as outlined above, that can help you to minimise the likelihood of drink spiking occurring in your premises and to assist any customers that are affected by spiking.

What should I do if drink spiking is reported in my premises?

If a vulnerability issue (such as drink spiking) is reported in your premises, there are three key initial actions that should always take place:

• Always act on the report - activate the safeguarding procedures you have in place in your venue, and take steps to identify those suspected, if possible, in the situation.
• Ensure the health and safety of the customer - this could be by calling emergency services, ensuring they are with trusted friends who will look after them, offering assistance if needed, and ensuring a safe space for the customer.
• Logging and recording - report incidences to the police and record the details for further internal action. Review CCTV footage to check if the incident has been captured.

Many venues will have procedures that go above and beyond those noted above for reported occurrences, plus their ongoing internal procedures to prevent vulnerability crimes occurring in the first place. Some venues offer anti-spiking bottle stoppers and protective drink covers, so you may wish to consider this as an option. In addition, drug testing kits have been made available in some local areas provided by the police or local authorities. However, the main preventive measure will always be well-trained, vigilant and supportive staff that know how to respond to situations that they observe or are reported to them.

Another key factor is to demonstrate that those looking to commit crimes in your premises are not welcome. This can be achieved in a number of ways such as:

• Via communication to your customers as to the signs to look out for (e.g. posters, social media)
• Staff training to enable them to identify potential issues before they develop further
• Practical and physical measures such as ensuring that CCTV coverage is optimised e.g. minimising 'blind spots' through removing obstacles, increasing lighting, using mirrors.

The list of resources below covers all of these actions plus other useful resources for safeguarding within the Night Time Economy:

Key Resources

Home Office

The Government has published a range of advice, guidance and information documents, available on the Home Office's website (opens new window). This includes:

• A spiking factsheet by the Home Office (opens new window) - which provides information on what spiking is, why and where it happens, the laws against it and the police's role.
• Information for venues and festivals by the Home Office (opens new window) - this includes posters that you can download to display in your venue and social media materials you can use:
  • Drink spiking posters (opens new window) developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiative's Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative together with the National Police Chiefs' Council
  • Enough campaign posters (opens new window)
  • Enough campaign social media materials (opens new window)

The Enough campaign also provides information on spiking organisations which offer UK-wide support, and has a partnership with universities across the UK where Enough Campaign Spiking prevention materials such as posters and social media materials (opens new window) are also used.

• Guidance on spiking from the Home Office (opens new window) - offering advice and support on what to do if you are spiked, or are with someone who has been, and where to get more information.

Night Time Industries Association (NTIA)

• Night Time Industries guidance on drink spiking (opens new window)

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) posters

• British Institute of Innkeeping staff awareness poster (opens new window)
• British Institute of Innkeeping guest awareness Poster (opens new window)

"Ask for Angela" scheme

There are a range of resources available for venues to sign-up to and support the Ask for Angela Initiative (opens new window):

• Details about the Ask for Angela scheme, free downloadable poster templates and resources. (opens new window)
• Details about the Met Police scheme, associated materials and training. (opens new window)
• National Pubwatch Poster (opens new window)

National Pubwatch

• A range of free National Pubwatch Policy Documents (opens new window) including template drink spiking and vulnerable persons policies, developed in conjunction with Best Bar None (opens new window)
• National Pubwatch E-Learning module on vulnerability awareness in the night time economy (opens new window)
• National Pubwatch Supporting Vulnerable People - short online film on youtube (opens new window)

Best Bar None

Best Bar None is an industry accreditation scheme for licensed premises. The accreditation includes questions on how a venue supports its staff to identify and help vulnerable people, together with any steps it can take to prevent spiking. Support is provided to implement appropriate policies and practices if needed. Best Bar None can be contacted here (opens new window).

Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training

• WAVE Training (opens new window) aims to increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of those working in licensed premises focusing on identifying vulnerability and making appropriate interventions.

CPL Learning

• CPL Learning have provided free access to their CPL online drink spiking awareness course for staff. (opens new window)

Drinkaware

• Drinkaware information and guidance (opens new window) on drink spiking
• An article about Drinkaware navigating nightlife (opens new window) which talks about drink spiking in the LGBTQ+ community

Women's Night Safety Charters

Following the launch of a Women's Night Safety Charter by the Mayor of London, other regions and cities across the UK are starting to launch their own versions. We encourage members that operate in these locations to become signatories.

• London - Women's Night Safety Charter (opens new window)
• Bristol - Women's Safety Charter (opens new window)
• Manchester - Women's Night Safety Charter (opens new window)
• Northern Ireland - Women's Night Safety Charter (opens new window)
• Sheffield - Women and Girl's Night-time Safety Charter (opens new window)
• West Midlands - Women's Night Safety Charter (opens new window)