Valley City Tackles Drink Spiking Head-On

Tempe Takes Lead on Drink Spiking Prevention

If you enjoy Tempe's vibrant nightlife scene, there's some potentially groundbreaking news coming out of City Hall. Tempe is working to become the first city in Arizona to require bars and clubs to help protect patrons from drink spiking.

Councilman Randy Keating presented the proposed ordinance at Thursday's city council meeting, drawing both praise and pushback from community members. The measure would require approximately 70 establishments that serve alcohol past midnight to make drug-testing kits and drink covers available for customers.

The numbers are concerning. Tempe police say drink spiking incidents are underreported by as much as 70 percent, and surveys show 11 percent of ASU students have experienced having their drinks tampered with. Meanwhile, 73 percent of adults between 25 and 44 support the proposed ordinance.

Here's how it would work. Bars could sell testing kits for up to 150 percent of their cost, allowing them to recoup expenses. Establishments offering free drink covers and test kits could receive a 25 percent reduction on their annual liquor license fees. Private companies have committed to providing thousands of free supplies to help businesses during the first year.

Not everyone is on board. Representatives from the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association raised concerns about liability issues and patrons bringing their own containers into establishments. Keating has been meeting with stakeholders to address these concerns.

The council is scheduled to vote on the final ordinance on February 5. If passed, requirements would take effect August 1.

While Tempe blazes the trail, Chandler and Phoenix are already exploring similar measures. For those of us who want to enjoy a night out without worry, this could be a welcome step toward safer nightlife across the Valley.

Sources: AZ Family | ABC15 | FOX 10 Phoenix | 12 News | Axios Phoenix