With Freshers Week festivities only a few days away, an expert has issued a warning about the risks of spiking and the red flags to watch out for when getting a drink on a night out
As Freshers Week approaches, many youngsters are looking forward to celebrating the start of their first year at university by drinking a glass or two of their favourite booze. However, with drink spiking on the rise, you may want to be more cautious during this eventful week.
Nights out are fun, until they aren’t. Most people don’t realise their drink is spiked until they’ve drunk the majority of their tipple. Although these incidents are more common in bars and nightclubs, they can happen anywhere – and to anyone.
As explained by Metropolitan Police, spiking means to put alcohol or drugs into someone’s drink without their permission or without them knowing. Some of their symptoms can include confusion, nausea or vomiting, hallucination and paranoia, memory loss, and not being able to communicate properly.
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Research by Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University has shown that around 1.2 million Brits feel they’ve had their drink spiked in the past year alone. Shockingly, 90% of these incidents have never been reported to the police, meaning that those victims are suffering in silence without knowing what even happened last night they went out.
Freshers Week is a week of excitement and celebrations, as you jump from sixth form, college or an apprenticeship into real adulthood. Nonetheless, as much as the night is still young, it has to be enjoyed carefully. To prevent this, UK mobile cocktail bar experts at Spin and Shake have warned people about what to look out for and how to stay safe.
Changes in appearance
If you feel that your drink looks different, trust your gut and don’t take a sip from it – even if it’s your regular order.
- Not a clear colour, but rather cloudy
- Fizzing (when it shouldn’t fizz)
- An unusual shimmer or oily layer
- Sudden foam or bubbles
- Sediment floating or sinking
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Odd taste or smell
Despite most spiking drugs being tasteless, if your drink tastes weird, don’t finish it.
- Bitter, metallic or sour flavour
- Weird aftertaste
- Overpowering sweetness that doesn’t match the mixer
- Chemical or medicinal aroma
If you feel ‘drunker’ than expected
Unless you’re a lightweight, a serious red flag is when you feel tipsier or drunker than expected after one drink. If it hits you after 15 to 30 minutes, seek help immediately.
- Feeling lightheaded or confused
- Nausea or sudden exhaustion
- Slurred speech after one drink
- Feeling like you’re not in control
- Tunnel vision, shaky limbs, memory lapses
If you ever suspect that your drink or someone’s has been spiked, stop drinking. Then, don’t hesitate to inform your friend or a member of staff. Even if you’re unsure, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Most importantly, don’t leave the venue alone and ask for help getting home safely – whether it is by sharing locations or keeping each other updated on social media.
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