After reports of numerous drink spiking incidents in Southampton clubs and bars this week, SUSU have warned students in a blog post to be “extra vigilant” on nights out.
VP Welfare Beckie Thomas commented
It’s really important to only accept drinks from people you know, and to keep an eye on your drink, as this reduces the risk of your drink being spiked. Keep an eye on your friends, and if anyone suddenly seems much more drunk than you would expect, stay with them and take them to A&E immediately.
The Home Office reported in 2013 that over 400,000 women are sexually assaulted each year, and the problem isn’t exclusive to just women- Essex Police reported in 2012 that 11% of drink spiking incidents involved men.
This recent warning shows that drink spiking is a significant issue for students in Southampton- especially when precautions aren’t taken. Be safe and keep hold of your drinks.
Visit this NHS information page for more advice on prevention, and what to do if you think you or a friend has been spiked.
And of course somebody posted this in Femsoc and a commenter immediately whined that there was no addendum reminding people not to spike drinks, as if that would make any bloody difference.
Because if we added a bit in every road safety campaign reminding drivers that it’s illegal to mow down pedestrians, that would reduce traffic accidents right?
How about a mass televised advert telling everyone that, yes, murder/theft/rape are still illegal. Should reduce those stats right? People MUST be committing these crimes because they’re simply unaware of the legal ramifications right?
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Yeah, but spiking someone’s drink may be considered a prank by some. It shouldn’t be, but not every 19 year old has the best judgement after a few jars.
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recklessly stupid. So the culprit ONLY buys the DRUG, AFTER youR ‘few jars’ right? Thanks for idiotically defending a position that defiles victims, traumatises for life and could even possibly kill. And i’m not even a girl, ever been raped, or know someone who has. Well done, Genius.
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Drink Spiking does not happen, getting too drunk does
People should consider there own personal safety when deciding to drink too excess. We should also educate individuals that people are incapable of giving consent when plastered out of their brains and that having sex with unconscious drunk people is morally reprehensible.
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Citation required.
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http://www.jflmjournal.org/article/S1353-1131%2801%2990513-9/abstract
Quote from the abstract
“The extensive forensic database examined here does not support the concept of a commonly occurring ‘date rape’ scenario, in which the victim’s drink is covertly ‘spiked’ with a tablet, capsule or powder containing a sedative-hypnotic.”
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OK. That’s pretty convincing. Maybe SUSU should read that.
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