Spiking: new law, new tests and new challenges for nightlife venues

Spiking is set to become a standalone criminal offence under the UK's new Crime and Policing Bill, a move hailed as transformative for victims and the licensed trade. However, implementation raises fresh questions about detection, prevention and cultural change. The post Spiking: new law, new tests and new challenges for nightlife venues appeared first on The Drinks Business.

Apr 29, 2025 - 10:17

Spiking: new law, new tests and new challenges for nightlife venues

Spiking is set to become a standalone criminal offence under the UK's new Crime and Policing Bill, a move hailed as transformative for victims and the licensed trade. However, implementation raises fresh questions about detection, prevention and cultural change. Closeup shot of a man dropping a pill into a woman's cocktail in a nightclub. Drink spiking.

The government's move to make spiking a standalone criminal offence, currently progressing through the Crime and Policing Bill at Committee Stage in the House of Commons, signals a seismic shift in the UK's approach to tackling this violent crime. Prevalence remains worryingly high. According to a 2024 survey funded by Drinkaware and conducted by Anglia Ruskin University, 11.3% of adults reported being spiked at some point in their lives, with women (13%) more frequently targeted than men (9%) (Drinkaware Monitor, 2024). Around half of all incidents go unreported, often because victims "don't see the point". The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) highlights that "spiking is a violent crime", yet notes that emergency departments focus primarily on medical care rather than forensic sample collection. This further complicates prosecution efforts.

Nightlife economy and mandatory training

The government is pairing legislative reform with investment: more than 135,000 door supervisors have already received mandatory anti-spiking training since spring 2024, and the Security Industry Authority aims to reach all 352,000 licence holders by 2028. As part of this effort, police "intensification weeks" have been introduced, leading to higher arrest and prevention activity rates. Initiatives at the local level show the challenges ahead. A review by the City of London Police found that 91–92% of spiking incidents happened in licensed premises, with female victims accounting for 72–76% of cases. Despite training and engagement, forensic evidence remains elusive: in 2023–24, only 10% of tested samples showed positive drug results.

The promise and pitfalls of new drink testing kits

A breakthrough may be on the horizon. SureScreen Diagnostics has developed the Multi-Lined Rapid Beverage Test Cassette (MRBT), based on lateral flow technology familiar from Covid-19 tests. It detects GHB, Ketamine and 22 benzodiazepines, including Rohypnol, in minutes without false positives from common beverages such as tonic water or certain wines. SureScreen managing director Troy Stewart argues the MRBT could empower both staff and customers. He told The Scotsman last month: "Drinks spiking remains grossly underreported, that’s mainly due to the lack of forensic evidence, and the SureScreen Rapid Beverage Test Cassette addresses the gap." Research led by Anglia Ruskin University into existing drink testing kits warns of their limitations. Colour-based tests showed "lower specificity and higher false positives" with some producing positive results even when only water was present (Drink Spiking Research Report, November 2024). Immunoassay kits, such as SureScreen's MRBT, performed significantly better, but researchers cautioned that no single test could yet guarantee a drink is safe.

The hidden barriers to justice

Even with improved detection, prosecutions are rare. In 2019, police recorded around 1,900 spiking incidents nationwide, but fewer than 100 prosecutions followed (City of London Corporation, February 2025). Delay in reporting, difficulties collecting forensic samples and the prevalence of alcohol as a spiking agent all complicate matters. Victims, too, face hidden burdens. In the 2022 Drinkaware Monitor survey, nearly 90% of those who believed they had been spiked did not report the incident to police, with about half stating they "did not think there was any point". Many survivors continue to suffer lasting psychological scars, including suicidal thoughts. A spokesperson for the Night Time Industries Association welcomed anti-spiking measures but warned: "Significant challenges remain… tests primarily detect specific substances and do not account for all cases, some where alcohol itself is used as a spiking agent".

Changing culture, not just law

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips put it succinctly: "Anything where there is a crime that limits the movements of mainly young women, we can't tolerate it in our society". The government’s forthcoming legislative change is only the beginning. Without investment in accurate detection, better victim support, cultural change across the licensed sector and a robust judicial response, the promise of the new Crime and Policing Bill risks being another well-meaning but underpowered intervention.