On a Night Out

When you go on a night out make sure you make it a night to remember for the right reasons! Here’s some simple advice to make sure that your great night out is also a safe night out.

Before Going Out

Plan your evening before you go, preferably pre-booking a taxi for your return journey.

Whilst Out…

• Go out in a group, stay in a group and return in a group.
  
• Try to have someone in the group that stays sober to make sure that everyone else is safe.
  
• Avoid mixing your drinks, and try to break up the evening with water (this will do wonders to help you avoid getting a hangover).
  

Drink Spiking

Little is known currently about how common drink spiking is, but what is known is that it’s not Rohypnol, or GHB, or Ketamine that are the biggest problems –

Did you know the most widely used substance to spike drinks is alcohol?

If your mate asks you for a vodka and you put other alcohol in there (whether it’s for a laugh, because it’s their birthday, or you feel that they need to enjoy themselves), you are actually spiking their drink

The Myth: It only happens to girls
The Fact: Men are also at risk and should take precautionary measures.
It always involves a sexual assault
The Fact: Some involve no crime other than spiking the drink (simply spiking somebody’s drink may be a crime in itself and could lead to up to 10 years in prison), others may involve the theft of a mobile phone or similar.

The Myth: It only happens to people drinking alcohol
The Fact: The drugs are mostly colourless, odourless and tasteless so can be put in any drink regardless of alcohol content.

The Myth: I should just stay at home and not go out to pubs or clubs
The Fact: Your chances of being a victim of drink spiking are small and can be reduced further by taking the following advice.

5 Steps to minimise your risk

1. Never leave your drink unattended or turn your back on your drink.
2. Be aware of the amount of alcohol you are drinking.
3. Avoid accepting drinks from strangers; if you do make sure you see it poured/opened and that nobody has interfered with it before it gets to you.
4. Drink from a bottle and cover the top with your thumb.If you are a smoker and need to go outside to smoke, do this in between rounds so you are not leaving a drink unattended.

If you think your drink has been spiked

• It is important that you seek help straight away from someone you know and trust 100%.
• Seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Report the matter to the police because the main drugs used to spike drinks are out of your system very quickly.