How to Stay Safe

When you are out in a bar or club, or at a party in a friend's house, are you always confident that no-one could have put a drug into your drink? Do you ever leave it unattended? Or allow a stranger to buy you a drinks?

If so, then there is always a chance that you could become a victim of drug rape.

Although the possibility of it happening to you is slim, why take the chance when you can take simple steps to ensure that you won't become a victim?

Practical steps to help protect yourself

• Avoid going alone to a pub, club or party. You are far more vulnerable on your own. If you are with friends, then you are with people who can look out for each other. 
• Appoint a 'drinks watcher' (perhaps someone who is not drinking alcohol) who can ensure that the drinks of everyone in your party are looked after. 
• Stay aware of what is going on around you, and stay away from situations that you do not feel comfortable with. 
• Never accept a drink from someone you do not entirely trust.
• Don't share or exchange drinks. 
• Don't leave your drink unattended, even when going to the toilet. 
• If your drink's been moved, looks different, appears to have been topped-up, or has a different taste, then don't drink it. 
• Be aware that most drugs which could be used to incapacitate you are not easily detectable in a drink.   
• Remember drugs can be put into soft drinks (e.g. tea, coffee, fruit juice) as well as alcoholic drinks. 
• Consider very carefully whether you should leave a pub, club or party with someone you have just met. 
• Seek help from a trusted friend or a member of the club of pub management, if you begin to feel excessively drunk after just a small amount of alcohol.  It is important to get to a place of safety as soon as possible.  Be sure that you have absolute trust in the person you are asking for help.

Remember, if you're not watching what you're drinking, then somebody else might be.