Signs a drink has been tampered with

In many movies and TV shows, a scary staple involves a character, most of the time, female, at a party with a drink. She takes a sip but it feels weird and with every additional sip, the world starts spinning until eventually she blacks out with no remembrance of what happened the day before. While much of television and media, in general, is glorified, a tampered drink in real life can very well lead to this terrifying outcome. A spiked drink is very much a reality and it can happen to anyone due to a range of motives, such as theft or even sexual assault. Unfortunately, spiked drinks are statistically more likely to happen to women than to men. For these reasons and more, it is important to learn about how to spot a drink that has been tampered with and best practices to avoid getting a spiked drink. 

Color change

One indicator of if your drink has been altered is its color. Many times, due to a chemical reaction from what was poured into the drink, its color will change. Rohypnol or other common date rape drugs will turn the drink blue. In any instance, if you notice a color change, pour it out immediately and report the concern to an employee so they can make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. 

Cloudy appearance

Another sign that a drink was tampered with is if it looks cloudy. A cloudy outlook is not normal for any drink. 

Excessive bubbling

Excessive bubbling is also a sign to look out for because carbonated drinks only bubble for a certain amount of time, and excessive bubbling means a chemical reaction has taken place. 

Odd/Unusual taste

Lastly, if the drink tastes funny, there could be a chance that it was spiked so it is best if you throw it away. 

While it is good practice to look for such signs of drink alteration, there are often times when the substance mixed into the drink is tasteless, colorless, and odorless. This might make it hard for people to identify if their drink was really meddled with and might even be drugged as a result. This can really show in a person’s behavior after consuming the altered drink. If a person appears drunker after consuming a normal amount of the drink, that is a sign. Other possible symptoms of drink spiking include breathing problems, speech slurring, and memory gaps or muscle spasms. In case you suspect you have been a victim of drink spiking, it is best to pour out the drink and report the concern to your friends and the people working at the establishment you are at so that they can ensure your safety and the safety of others. It is best to get help as soon as possible before the effects of the spiked drink take effect. In more severe cases, do not hesitate to call the police or an ambulance for assistance. 

For all the victims of spiked drinks, it is not their fault in any way, shape, or form, However, being cautious is always a good practice. Steps you can take to ensure your drink isn’t tampered with include: buying/pouring your own drinks, watching the bartender who is preparing your drink, buying bottles over glasses, not leaving your drink unattended or ordering a new drink if you accidentally do, and not accepting drinks from strangers.