Drink spiking in 2026: what's changed and how to protect your night out

October 2026 · 6 min read

A night out should be about the people you're with, not watching your glass. But drink spiking is still happening, in the UK and around the world, and 2026 has brought some of the biggest changes in how it's treated in years. Here's what's new, what to do if you think someone has been spiked, and where a quick drink test fits in.

The headlines this year

Spiking now has its own law in the UK

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April. It creates a single, modern offence of administering a harmful substance without consent, which explicitly covers spiking.

Spiking was already illegal, but it was usually charged under sections of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Campaigners say the new wording makes it plainer that spiking is a serious crime, and should lead to more consistent recording and prosecution. The offence also extends to Northern Ireland.

Better data is on the way

From April 2026, offences involving spiking are part of the Home Office's Annual Data Requirement, the formal way it collects crime data from every police force in England and Wales. For the first time, we should get a clearer national picture of how often spiking happens and where.

Reports are still rising in some areas

Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 311 reported spiking incidents between April 2025 and March 2026, up from 292 the year before. The national charity Stamp Out Spiking believes the true number is much higher, because many people never report it.

It's a global problem

• USA: In October, Montana State University warned students after an increase in reports since the start of term, many linked to student gatherings and fraternity events. The University of Vermont's police are investigating several incidents at off-campus locations.
• South Africa: Spiking awareness campaigns with students and police are running ahead of the festive season.
• Travel: Spiking is regularly listed as a risk in popular party destinations, so it's worth packing protection as well as sun cream.

Anyone can be targeted

There is no typical victim. Spiking happens in clubs and bars, but also at house parties, festivals, work events and on holiday. It affects men and women of all ages.

Warning signs a drink may have been tampered with:

• It tastes unusually bitter, salty or "off"
• It looks cloudy or has a residue
• It wasn't poured or opened in front of you
• It was left unattended, even briefly

Warning signs someone may have been spiked:

• Feeling far drunker than they should for what they've had
• Confusion, dizziness or memory gaps
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty speaking, standing or staying awake

What to do if you think someone's been spiked

1. Trust your instincts. Don't dismiss your concerns out of embarrassment. If it's safe to, test the drink with a CYD strip.
2. Keep the drink if you can. It may be useful as evidence.
3. Stay together and tell someone you trust: a friend, bar manager, security staff or a medical professional. Don't leave with anyone you don't know.
4. Get medical help. In the UK, call 999 if someone is in danger or getting worse. Tell medical staff your concerns and take your CYD result with you.
5. Report it to the police quickly. GHB leaves the body within 8 to 12 hours, so fast blood and urine testing matters. Even if you're unsure, reporting helps police spot patterns and hotspots.

Where CYD fits in

Check Your Drink (CYD) is a UK drink spike indicator test, and the only UK police-approved drink spike test of its kind. It was founded in 2014 by Katie Burrington, after her husband, criminal lawyer Richard Burrington, saw a growing number of spiking cases cross his desk.

The test was developed over four years with the University of Strathclyde and Clinical Trials Laboratory Services (CTLS), and has since been independently tested by Lucideon. It has been tested across 92 different drinks.

What it screens for

CYD indicates the possible presence of GHB, ketamine, scopolamine and certain related amine-based compounds. Independent testing also showed a positive reaction to cocaine.

How to use it

1. Using your finger or a straw, put one drop of the drink on each test patch.
2. Wait up to 30 seconds.
3. Pink (GHB) patch turns blue or pale grey = positive. Yellow (ketamine/amine) patch turns orange = positive.

CYD comes in a five-strip pouch, a wristband and a matchbook, so it fits in a wallet, purse or pocket.

Accuracy and limits

We want you to trust CYD, which means being clear about what it can and can't do:

• Ketamine: 2.3% false positive rate, with no false negatives recorded in testing.
• GHB: 4.88% combined false positive and false negative rate.
• Milk-based drinks can affect the GHB test.
• Bitter lemon or lime cordial may cause a GHB false negative.
• Dark red drinks, such as red wine or blackcurrant cordial, can interfere with both tests.
• It won't detect substances outside its scope, or amounts below detectable levels.

No colour change does not guarantee a drink is safe. If you still have doubts, don't drink it. Your safety is worth more than a wasted drink. CYD is one layer of protection alongside watching your drink and looking after your friends, not a replacement for them.

For venues and organisations

With spiking now a specific offence and data being collected nationally, venues, licensing teams, universities and event organisers are under more pressure to show what they do to keep people safe.

CYD is already used by bars, clubs, universities, event organisers, businesses and police forces around the world. In Birmingham, Westside BID gave free strips to nightclubs and had its street wardens carry them, so anyone worried about their drink could check it on the spot.

Having tests on hand shows customers you take their safety seriously. If you run a venue, an event, or supply the night-time economy, get in touch to talk about stocking or distributing CYD.

Key takeaways

• Spiking has its own offence under the UK's Crime and Policing Act 2026.
• National spiking data for England and Wales is being collected from April 2026.
• Reported cases are still rising in some areas, and many go unreported.
• If you suspect spiking: test it, keep the drink, get help and report it fast.
• CYD screens for GHB, ketamine, scopolamine and related compounds in under 30 seconds. If in doubt, don't drink.

Enjoy your night. Check your drink.

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