Council to work with pubs and clubs on protective cover initiative to prevent drink spiking

The motion noted the serious concerns surrounding drink spiking and the impact this has on people’s safety and confidence when socialising, particularly among young women and girls.

Sinn Féin Councillor Aisling Hutton, who brought the proposal to the full council meeting for October said: “It remains a very real concern for a lot of people in our society, particularly for young women and girls, who are socialising with friends.

"For many of these young women going out for a drink or a concert, festival or event should be simply about enjoying themselves with friends and they should not have to constantly worry about their drinks being safe or tampered with,” she said.

Colr. Hutton said drink spiking can happen to anyone but is of particular concern for women and girls.

She proposed that the council work with licensed premises to develop a local initiative to promote the use and availability of protective drink covers for glasses and anti-spiking bottle stoppers or covers, where appropriate.

Drink spiking, she said, was extremely traumatising for those targeted.

“People may be embarrassed, they may be frightened, they simply may be unsure about what happened to them and that is the really scary part about the trauma that is inflicted upon them,” she said.

The motion was passed unanimously by the council on Thursday.