Drink spiking is when someone adds alcohol, drugs, or another substance
to a drink without consent.
It can happen in bars, clubs, house parties, festivals, and social events.
This guide explains what drink spiking is, how common it is,
and what substances may be involved.
What Is Drink Spiking?
Drink spiking
happens when someone adds alcohol or drugs to another person’s drink
without their knowledge or consent.
This can include adding alcohol to a non-alcoholic drink.
It can also mean adding extra alcohol to an alcoholic drink.
In some cases, prescription or illegal drugs are added.
Substances used in drink spiking may have no taste, smell, or colour.
This means a spiked drink can be difficult to recognise.
What Is Needle Spiking?
Needle spiking
is when someone secretly injects another person with a substance.
It is sometimes called injection spiking.
The aim of spiking is often to impair a person’s judgement.
This can make someone more vulnerable to theft, assault,
or sexual assault.
Drink spiking is illegal.
It should always be taken seriously.
How Common Is Drink Spiking?
Drink spiking is more common than many people realise.
Many incidents are never reported.
This may be because victims feel embarrassed, afraid, or confused.
Memory loss can also make reporting harder.
Some people may not know exactly what happened.
12% of young people reported experiencing spiking
in an Alcohol Education Trust survey.
18.2% reported having their drink spiked
at some point in their lifetime.
1.8% reported drink spiking within the past year
in the Global Drug Survey 2022.
11% of women and 6% of men said they had been spiked
in a YouGov poll.
Recorded crimes linked to spiking increased between 2016 and 2019.
These figures only reflect known or reported cases.
The true number may be higher.
In one young adult poll,
92% of people did not report the incident.
How Do Drinks Get Spiked?
Drinks can be spiked in several ways.
It is more likely to happen in busy, crowded,
or poorly lit settings.
Adding Drugs or Alcohol
Someone may add alcohol or drugs to an unattended drink.
This can happen quickly and without being noticed.
Giving a Pre-Spiked Drink
A person may offer a drink that has already been tampered with.
This risk is higher when accepting drinks from strangers.
Switching Drinks
A spiker may swap your drink for another drink.
This can happen when you are distracted.
Where Are Drinks Most Likely to Be Spiked?
Drink spiking can happen anywhere drinks are served or shared.
Certain settings may carry higher risk because they are crowded,
dark, or difficult to monitor.
Pubs and nightclubs: these are commonly reported locations.
Crowds and loud music can make suspicious behaviour harder to notice.
House parties: drinks may be left unattended.
There may also be no staff, CCTV, or security.
Festivals: large crowds, camping areas,
and alcohol or drug availability may increase risk.
Private events: spiking can also happen
in homes, student accommodation, or informal gatherings.
It is important to stay alert in any social setting.
Keep your drink with you and look out for friends.
What Was My Drink Spiked With?
Drinks can be spiked with different substances.
These are often chosen because they affect alertness,
memory, judgement, or coordination.
Alcohol
Extra alcohol may be added to a drink.
This can cause unexpected intoxication,
especially if the person thinks the drink is weak.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs.
They may cause drowsiness, confusion,
poor coordination, and memory loss.
GHB
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, is a powerful depressant.
It may cause drowsiness, memory loss, and unconsciousness.
Ketamine
Ketamine can cause dissociation, confusion,
poor coordination, and reduced awareness.
MDMA or Ecstasy
MDMA may affect judgement, awareness, and behaviour.
It can also make symptoms harder to interpret.
Worried Your Drink Was Spiked?
If you feel unusually drunk, confused, sleepy, or unwell,
seek help immediately.
Tell a trusted friend, venue staff, or security.
If symptoms are severe, call 999.
Do not leave alone with someone you do not trust.
