Drink Spiking in 2025 – What the Latest Data Shows

Recent data shows that drink spiking is still common, and still heavily under-reported.

How common is it?

• Around 2% of UK adults (1.8%) said they had been spiked in the past year, equivalent to nearly one million people, in Drinkaware's 2025 Monitor survey of more than 7,000 adults (Drinkaware, 2025).
• The figure rises to 3% among 18 to 34-year-olds (Drinkaware, 2025).

Most cases are never reported

• Only 23% of people spiked in the past year reported it to the police. Many said they didn't think anything would be done (Drinkaware, 2025).
• Earlier research from Anglia Ruskin University estimated that around 90% of drink spiking goes unreported (ARU, 2024).

Is it increasing?

The picture is mixed. Drinkaware's surveys show self-reported spiking dipped slightly between 2023 and 2025 (Drinkaware 2022–2025 report). But police reports have risen in some areas: Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 311 reported incidents in 2025/26, up from 292 the year before (Devon and Cornwall OPCC). Greater awareness may mean more people recognise and report spiking.

It isn't only drugs

Adding extra alcohol to someone's drink without their knowledge is also spiking. Drinkaware found fewer people recognise this than recognise drug spiking (Drinkaware, 2025).

The bigger picture

Spiking can be linked to other serious crimes. In an international study of people who had been spiked, almost a fifth said they were sexually assaulted during the incident (Davies et al., Journal of Drug Issues, 2024).

The takeaway: awareness is improving, but most cases still go unreported. Knowing the signs, looking out for friends and having a way to check your drink all help.