‘Sip Safely’ pilot gives Austin bars drink-spiking test strips
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fifty bars have joined a new city pilot program aimed at keeping safe while going out in Austin’s entertainment districts, city officials said Monday.
The campaign is called “Sip Safely”.
The $100,000 pilot program funds alcohol test strips that would allow patrons to see if their drinks got spiked, as well as drink covers fliers. Participating bars can hang fliers letting customers know the test strips are available.
“Drink spiking often precedes other types of crime,” said Brian Block, the manager for the city’s Nightlife and Entertainment Services program.
Council Member Zo Qadri brought forth the idea in the city’s previous budget cycle.
“Heard from many constituents who both frequented Sixth Street and Rainey Street, whether they themselves had gotten a drink spiked or a loved one, so it was big enough problem,” Qadri said. “And if it’s one person, that’s one person too many, and that’s why we took notice and worked on this item.”
Teddie Hickey, the assistant general manager of Friends Bar on Sixth Street, said the business gladly joined the pilot program.
“We strive to create a safe place to listen to live music here, that’s our goal,” she said.
Law enforcement officials said the prevalence of drink spiking can be difficult to quantify.
Last year, KXAN spoke with city leaders in West Hollywood, Calif., where a similar program was launched. Qadri said he modeled his idea off of West Hollywood’s.
Public safety leaders there said there currently aren’t numbers to quantify whether the testing strips led to fewer drinks getting spiked, but a California council member said several bars called his office multiple times to request more of the strips. West Hollywood’s director of community safety said 31,728 test kits were distributed to 38 participating businesses as part of the program.
During Monday’s press conference about the Austin pilot, city leaders did not provide specific information in response to questions about ways it currently plans to monitor the success of the program, but they did mention how they hope it serves as a deterrent.
“The more we can get exposure for this campaign, the more bars and venues that are participating, the more we can get the message out,” said Block.
You can see all of the bars participating in the “Sip Safely” program here.
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