Perpetrators of drink spiking have revealed for the first time why they target people's drinks, including doing it 'just for a laugh'. A new study from the University of Birmingham and the Home Office found that some even viewed their actions as 'generous', believing they were 'helping people enjoy their nights'.
Methods and Justifications
Methods have included stewing cannabis in tea, and even putting a soft drink with high sugar content in a diabetic's alcoholic drink. The most common reason given by perpetrators was that it was a 'joke' and to 'liven up the party'. This is despite spiking often leaving victims incapacitated, with no control over their body and with little memory of the surrounding events.
Victim's Experience
Sharon Gaffka was spiked in July 2020 while out for dinner with her friends. She went to the toilet and did not come back for 10 minutes. Friends of the Love Island star and restaurant staff picked open the toilet cubicle and found her collapsed with her bottom half exposed and sick around the walls.
'They called an ambulance, and paramedics told my friends that I was just drunk and I needed to sleep it off,' she told Metro. She added: 'My friends had to advocate for me, and argued that they know me well enough to see something was seriously wrong.' Sharon was taken to hospital and discharged just a few hours later. It wasn't until a few days later that she realised she had been spiked.
Venue Response and Police Data
Medics are being increasingly employed at venues in London to be on hand, including at The Garden in Vauxhall, where the Minister for Safeguarding launched a new anti-spiking awareness plan. Bar workers like Deepak Agarwal are often the first port of call when someone has been spiked. He said victims tend to present as 'very drunk', not able to stand very well, and being sick. He told Metro: 'It is usually victims' friends who come up to us and say "there is something wrong with my friend". We try and get them in a quiet place, and call the police.'
In the year ending in September, more than 2,700 spiking-related offences were reported to the Metropolitan Police. Only 131 led to a charge, caution or summons. There is a sharp increase of reports around university fresher's weeks, as many new 18-year-olds experience the UK's nightlife scene for the first time.
Evolving Methods and New Law
As the new generation arrives, the methods of spiking are also evolving. Vapes are being drugged, and tablets like antihistamines and sleep aids are used to spike drinks. But the most common form of spiking was using alcohol. Det Supt Dan Thompson, the Met's spiking lead, said it was important for victims who believe they have been spiked to report it straight away. He said: 'Whatever you have been spiked with can flush out of your system quickly. So it is important to test straight away, so we can get the evidence while it is there.'
Minister for Safeguarding Satvir Kaur said the new campaign will be aimed at perpetrators for the first time. Previous campaigns have instead been focused on potential victims, warning people to cover their drinks. It comes as spiking has been recognised as a specific offence under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, under which perpetrators can face up to 10 years in prison. She told Metro: 'We want people to feel confident to come forward to the police, and as new ways of spiking develop, we can really see the scale of the challenge against us. We are focusing on spiking now, as young people head to university and we see the number of reports jump. We need young people to know that it is "no joke" and the harm it can cause.'
