This New CA Law Aims to Fight Drink Spiking in Bars
7/24/2024 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Starting July 1st, a new CA law requires bars to provide drink testing kits to combat drink spiking.
A new California law requires bars and nightclubs to provide drink testing kits to combat drink spiking, starting July 1st. They must also display signs informing customers of the availability of these kits, aiming to reduce incidents of roofying.
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SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal
This New CA Law Aims to Fight Drink Spiking in Bars
7/24/2024 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
A new California law requires bars and nightclubs to provide drink testing kits to combat drink spiking, starting July 1st. They must also display signs informing customers of the availability of these kits, aiming to reduce incidents of roofying.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship-Across California, thousands of bar and nightclub owners have had to hang signs like these.
It's thanks to a new state law that requires bar owners to do more to combat drink spiking, commonly called roofying.
The author of the law is Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal of Long Beach.
-Well, I've been the owner of a nightclub here in Long Beach in the past.
Currently, I'm a partner in three different restaurants, all of whom serve alcohol.
For many of us that are owners, we devote our life savings to this.
We work so hard to these moments, and it is completely and totally unconscionable that we could indirectly be involved in facilitating sexual assault when people come in and roofie our customers' drinks, and then do awful things afterwards.
-The law, which took effect July 1st, requires that bar owners have drink testing kits available for customers, and they have to hang signs letting them know.
Inside the SweetWater Saloon in Long Beach, the owners have welcomed the requirements.
-Having this option where people can test their drinks if they feel unsafe or unsure, is really great for not only an operator, but also a client or a customer at any point.
-Lowenthal has three other bills pending in the state legislature that would expand on the requirements for bar owners.
-The drugs that are used for roofying, you can't see them, you can't taste them, you can't smell them.
They leave your body within 24 hours.
It's really, really difficult to catch somebody in the act, and we've endured this for way too long.
I think that we've endured it ostensibly because it's affecting women and gay men primarily.
-Watts thinks it'll end up being good for business.
-I think it makes people comfortable, and it gives them something to give them some comfort level that you wouldn't get just from going to any other bar any other time before this was being an option.
-Reporting for CalMatters, I'm Ryan Sabalow.
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SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal