Officials launch campaign with posters warning against drink spiking

State Representative Dan Deasy, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) Chairman Darrell Clarke, Pennsylvania State Police Major Robert L. Bailey, and Tom Tyler, President of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, have introduced a new poster aimed at raising awareness about drink spiking.

The poster features the message "Never Leave Your Drink On Its Own" and will be distributed to bars, restaurants, hotels, other liquor licensees, institutions of higher education, and prevention partners. The material provides information on how to prevent drinks from being spiked, signs that a drink may have been tampered with, and common physical symptoms associated with drink spiking. In addition to the main poster, smaller informational resources with similar visuals and more detailed messaging will also be made available.

"We all know that the act of spiking drinks exists," said Deasy. "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."

The initiative brings together state officials and industry representatives in an effort to address safety concerns related to drink spiking in social settings.