Community urged to be alert of ‘spiking’
Drink spikings have been reported in Newcastle recently.
“People must enjoy themselves but always be alert.”
Business owner, Huyzer Koch offered this sage advice to all socialites, following reports of yet another drink ‘spiking’ at a local establishment in mid-September. While Mr Koch denied the incident took place at his bar, he admitted the problem was becoming commonplace.
“These things happen not only here, but everywhere.”
Urging residents to be aware, Mr Koch said drink ‘spiking’ was difficult to control. However, his most important piece of advice to anyone enjoying a night out was to avoid the possibility of being drugged by never leaving their open drink unattended.
“If you have to leave a drink, leave it with people you know.”
Mr Koch believes in the safety of drinking from a bottle, which makes ‘spiking’ more difficult. Should a person’s drink get ‘spiked’, he emphasised the importance of letting a trustworthy person know.
“React sooner – try and remember your stops before you felt unwell, because it is otherwise difficult to follow up.”
Mr Koch further advised residents to remain alert when on a night out, as drink ‘spiking’ and worse showed it was ‘a cruel world nowadays, not like we used to remember’.
Police cluster spokesman, Captain Shooz Magudulela reiterated Mr Koch’s advice, advising residents to rather finish a drink or abandon the remainder, than leave it unattended. “Some people out there are at a bar for other motives,” he cautioned.
