If a person suddenly appears to develop the symptoms of being unduly intoxicated or acts in an outrageously provocative manner, take the following action:

• talk to the person and offer assistance
• find out if they have a trusted friend in the venue who can help them get home
• if they become sleepy while you are speaking to them, there is a good chance they are the victim of drink spiking
• carefully watch the person and arrange for a manager to assist them
• take the person’s drink in its original container and give it to a manager for safekeeping in a secure location
• if possible, only touch the lowest part of the container and place it in a plastic bag. The drink may be crucial evidence in finding an offender
• call an ambulance if the person appears to have been drugged
• if you are suspicious of anyone in the company of the ‘victim’, ask for their ID and take note of details.

If you think a person who is disoriented and unsteady on their feet is being escorted from the premises by a stranger, take the following action:

• ask the possible offender for ID and take note of the details
• ask the possible offender to look at the camera when that person walks past a surveillance camera
• talk to the unsteady person and find out if they know the person taking them off the premises
• if they do not know the other person, there is a good chance the unsteady person is a victim of drink spiking
• advise the possible offender that in the interests of ensuring a criminal offence is not committed you will look after the unsteady person
• arrange for a manager to assess the situation
• call an ambulance if the person appears to have been drugged.

If a person lingers around a table where a drink has been left unattended, take the following action:

• approach the person and ask why they have an interest in that table
• if they don’t have a legitimate reason ask for ID and take note of the details
• ensure the person moves away from the table
• if you believe the drink may have been spiked, take it and follow the appropriate steps outlined in scenario 1
• leave a note on the table advising that the drink may have been spiked and is being retained by the management

Always record the details of each incident in the incident register held at the premises and initiate discussions about these incidents at staff meetings.

If you think that a drink-spiking incident has occurred, report the matter to the police.

Some licensed premises go further in the effort to increase awareness about drink spiking by arranging for DJs to make verbal announcements/warnings or displaying regular messages on video screens.