Drink spike alert ahead of crawl

Wide Bay Sexual Assault Support Service’s Patricia Gorman (left), Tess Patterson, Dell Iddon, Julie Wroe, Janene Howat and Leah O’Brien spread their message in the lead-up to this weekend’s World’s Greatest Pub Fest.

Jocelyn Watts

IT can happen in an instant but lead to a lifetime of pain.

Drink-spiking is common and women attending the World’s Greatest Pub Fest on Sunday are urged to beware and take care so the crawl remains a safe and happy experience.

Counsellors from the Wide Bay Sexual Assault Support Service visited every participating crawl pub this week to distribute coasters, brochures and wrist bands warning of the dangers and advising people how to stay safe.

Drink-spiking is adding alcohol or a drug to a person’s drink without that person being aware of it.

Any drink can be spiked.

The most common form of spiking is adding extra shots of spirits to a drink: vodka is especially easy to use because it does not have a strong taste and is often mixed with sweet drinks.

Noisy, crowded environments are the ideal conditions for drink-spiking.

Wide Bay Sexual Assault Association co-ordinator Leonie Nord said there had been reports of sexual assault associated with last year’s pub crawl. But smart drinkers can keep safe with some simple personal safety measures.

“We want everyone to be safe and be aware of what they are drinking,” she said.

“The high-risk age is between 15 and 25 and it’s not always an alcoholic drink that is spiked,” she said.

“Set up support networks. Be in a group, watch your drink and buy your own drinks. The best way to protect yourself from drink spiking is to use a container with a lid.

“If someone offers to buy you a drink, always watch the drink being poured.

“If you get separated from your group have strategies in place like having a mobile phone and a cab fare.

“We want it to be a fun, safe event, but people have to be thinking about what they’re doing.”

Symptoms of drink-spiking are feeling dizzy, faint, sick, sleepy or more intoxicated than you should be.

Anyone displaying symptoms should get help from police, who will be at every pub fest venue.

Read more about the World’s Greatest Pub Fest.

Related ...

Cops warn: play up, be locked up