San Diego, California – A significant move to bolster safety in nightlife venues is set to take place in San Francisco starting Monday, with San Diego County bars and nightclubs soon to offer patrons drug testing kits. This initiative, spurred by a new state law, targets the unsettling concern of drink spiking—an act often linked to sexual assaults.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has mandated that all establishments holding a Type 48 license, which permits the service of alcohol without food to customers over 21, equip themselves with these testing devices. The county is home to nearly 200 such venues, all now part of a statewide effort, encompassing about 2,400 licensees, aiming to counter the misuse of substances like ketamine and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), commonly known as “date-rape drugs.”
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal of Long Beach, who spearheaded this legislation through Assembly Bill 1013, emphasized the ubiquitous threat of drink spiking in settings that serve alcohol. Lowenthal, himself a bar and restaurant owner, articulated a pressing need to address these crimes proactively. “Drink spiking can occur anywhere, from the most casual bars to upscale locations. It’s imperative we start with venues where alcohol is a constant and then broaden our reach.”
Despite the prevalence of sexual assault incidents tied to such drugs, reports to law enforcement remain dreadfully low. Data from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics illustrates the stark underreporting, with only a fraction of cases ever making it to the authorities.
Julie Kazmi, who has run The Silver Fox in Pacific Beach for over two decades, shared her personal ordeal of being drugged at 17. While she supports the availability of testing kits, Kazmi voiced reservations about it being a legislative requirement, suggesting that proactive measures should ideally stem from the goodwill of the bar owners themselves. “It should be up to the establishment,” Kazmi argued. “Good humans would want to keep their patrons safe.”
The law not only obligates the installation of these kits but also requires venues to conspicuously inform patrons of their availability. However, this has stirred some discomfort among bar owners like Kazmi, who worry about the effect such signs could have on the atmosphere of their establishments, potentially instilling unnecessary fear or paranoia among customers.
San Diego residents have expressed mixed feelings. Some see the law as an essential step towards safeguarding social spaces, while others, echoing Kazmi’s sentiment, believe such measures should be voluntary, reflecting a commitment to customer safety on the part of business owners.
Testing accuracy also remains a concern. The law specifies that these kits need only detect one controlled substance, raising questions about the reliability and thoroughness of such preventive measures. Moreover, the ABC has stated that while the venues must ensure the kits are not expired, they cannot be held liable for any defective tests or inaccurate results.
The legislative measure stipulates that non-compliant establishments could face administrative citations. Yet, it also includes a sunset clause that will see the law repealed on January 1, 2027, unless extended.
This law marks California as the pioneer in legally mandating anti-drug spiking measures in nightlife venues—a legislative trend that might catch on in other states. As establishments gear up to implement these changes, the real test will be the law’s effectiveness in not just deterring crime but also in transforming how patrons experience nightlife safety.
As awareness grows and the market for protective measures in nightlife settings expands, so does the hope that these sobering concerns will give way to safer, more secure nights out for everyone.