HARRISBURG, Oct. 1 – State Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Chairman Darrell Clarke, Pennsylvania State Police Major Robert L. Bailey and Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association President Tom Tyler today unveiled a new poster to spread awareness of drink spiking.
Posters with the tag line “Never Leave Your Drink On Its Own” will be made available to bars, restaurants, hotels and other liquor licensees; institutions of higher education; and other partners in prevention to raise awareness of the dangers of drinks being spiked. The posters provide tips to prevent drinks from being spiked, signs to indicate a drink has been spiked, and common physical symptoms of drink spiking.
An additional, smaller informational resource with similar visuals and more detailed messaging will also be available.
“We all know that the act of spiking drinks exists,” Deasy said. “I’ve told all of my adult children to never leave their drink unattended. That includes non-alcoholic drinks. But unlike other types of dangers, we don’t seem to acknowledge this outside of a private family conversation. People have been assaulted and robbed through spiked drinks, and we need to bring this issue to light. This is truly about safety, and we want to make the public aware.”
“Drink spiking is a crime, and it’s never the victim’s fault,” Clarke said. “We hope that by distributing these posters to licensees in conjunction with our Responsible Alcohol Management Program training, or RAMP -- and to institutions of higher education and other partners in prevention -- we can begin spreading awareness of the dangers of drink spiking and start a broader conversation about how to prevent it.”
“As a bar owner, when a patron walks into my establishment, my priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable place for them to spend their time,” said Tyler, who owns McStew’s Irish Sports Pub in Levittown. “But bartenders and servers can only do so much. I've often seen patrons step away from their drinks or not pay close attention to them, which unfortunately makes them vulnerable to drink spiking. That’s why this campaign matters – it’s about education, awareness and prevention.”
“The PSP will continue to conduct inspections, respond to complaints and work closely with local law enforcement, colleges and community partners,” said Bailey, director for the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement with PSP, “all to deter those who might consider endangering others in this way. But we cannot do it alone. Public awareness and community vigilance are vital in reducing these risks.”
The PLCB will make the poster and smaller, more detailed informational cards available at hundreds of RAMP trainings at 40 locations statewide. The materials can also be requested through PLCB+, the PLCB’s online regulatory system. Materials will be printed and mailed free of charge.
CONTACT: Jolie Long
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-210-1901
Email: jlong@pahouse.net
CONTACT: Shawn Kelly | Press Secretary
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Northwest Office Building | Harrisburg, PA 17124
Phone: 717.303.8522 | Email: shawkelly@pa.gov
pa.gov/lcb