Published
Mon, Oct 25, 2021, 10:10
- Next week, ravers in Nottingham, Swansea, Stirling and beyond will avoid local venues in protest.
Students across the UK are planning a boycott of local clubs this week and next in protest against the recent rise in spiking cases.
As numerous stories have emerged recently of women having their drinks spiked or being spiked via injection, a student-led campaign has spread to around 40 towns and cities across the UK. Each place will boycott clubs, bars and pubs for one night in the next two weeks. Find your local group here.
The aim of the boycotts is to raise awareness and to jolt clubs into action. A three-point plan of demands has been drawn up, focussing on "Prevention," "Welfare" and "Support."
Clubs nationwide have responded to the wave of incidents, reiterating existing safety policies and, in some cases, announcing extra measures. Wire in Leeds promises to provide free drink lids and enhance security checks at the door. Stealth and PRYZM, two Nottingham venues where women have said they've been spiked in recent weeks, have both issued statements reasserting their safety policies and confirming the availability of drink lids and bottle stoppers.
"In March, all our bar staff, security and office staff completed the Good Night Out campaign training," Josiah Worth from Liverpool venue 24 Kitchen Street told Resident Advisor. "That tackles sexual assault, spiking, racism, all the horrible stuff. We also have QR codes everywhere onsite that say "Have you been spiked?" When scanned, these take you to an information sheet."
An official petition is currently circulating asking the government to make it a legal requirement for clubs to "thoroughly search guests on entry." The petition has surpassed 100,000 signatures, which means it'll be considered for debate in parliament. Sign here.
Girls Night In Nottingham has shared some useful first-aid information and guidance on spiking.