The NSW Police Force has expanded the coverage of its Drink Safe campaign with the introduction of drink covers and coasters being used at licensed venues across the State.
Corporate Sponsor for Alcohol-related Crime, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the campaign aimed to educate the community about safe drinking behaviours and highlight tips to lessen potential risks to personal safety.
“A key element of the campaign is education in relation to drink spiking, a crime that has been of concern to industry and consumers alike for decades,” Assistant Commissioner McFadden said.
“To build on the education packages, police are rolling out a trial of drink coasters and single-use self-adhesive drink covers to NSW licensed venues, with priority to licensed venues within the Sydney WorldPride precinct,” he said.
“The covers and coasters depict an anti-drink spiking message and are designed so patrons can get up and dance or socialise without fear of their drink being spiked.”
Assistant Commissioner McFadden said the drink covers included instructions for use and were manufactured in a recyclable food safe material.
He said similar measures had been used successfully overseas and police hoped to see a positive impact through reduced incidents of suspected drink spiking and increased conversation in the community about dangerous drinking behaviours.
“For those who think they can slip something in someone’s drink and take advantage of them, they should know they could spend the next quarter of a century behind bars,” Assistant Commissioner McFadden said.
“The priority for anyone who suspects their drink had been spiked is to seek urgent medical assistance and in a life-threatening situation, contact Triple Zero,” he said.
“In cases where the victim has also been taken somewhere without their knowledge, I encourage them to get to a safe place and call the police immediately.”
For all other instances, Assistant Commissioner McFadden encouraged people to report the incident to police as soon as possible, “it is vital for investigators to start gathering evidence quickly, so they can track down the person/s responsible before they harm someone else.”
“We know that the most effective ways to reduce the chances of your drink being spiked are to keep an eye on your drink and never accept drinks from people you don’t know well or trust,” he said.
“These coasters and covers can help with keeping drinks safe and importantly, they’re a conversation starter – hopefully raise awareness of the issue and keep it at top of mind.”
Further information on drink spiking can be accessed at this PS News link.
