Drink spiking is when mind-altering substances, such as drugs or alcohol, are added to your drink without you knowing. Mind-altering means that it may affect how you act, or how you behave with other people.
The people who are most at risk from drink spiking are those who regularly drink too much alcohol. For men, the recommended limit of alcohol is 21 units a week (3-4 units a day), and for women the recommended limit is 14 units (2-3 units a day). A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal strength lager, a small glass of wine, or a pub measure (25ml) of spirits.
There are many reasons why someone might spike a drink, and it is not only females who could be targeted. The most common reasons are:
- for amusement,
- to be malicious (deliberately nasty),
- to carry out a sexual assault, or rape,
- to carry out a physical assault, or
- to carry out a theft.
The symptoms of drink spiking will depend on whether alcohol, or another drug, has been used, how much of the substance was used, and how much alcohol you have already drunk. You will need to have your blood or urine tested by the police to confirm that your drink has been spiked with drugs.
Drink spiking is illegal, even if an attack or assault has not been carried out. It can result in a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison for anyone who is found guilty of doing it. If an assault, rape, or robbery is also carried out, the sentence will be even higher.
