A recent law will require many establishments that serve booze in California to provide drug test tools and post signage warning about drink spiking, starting July 1 this 12 months.
The measure, AB1310, requires establishments with a Type 48 liquor license – granted to bars and nightclubs, and not using a requirement to serve food – to offer patrons drug testing kits to test for common date-rape drugs, often referred to as ‘roofies,’ according to a press release.
The required signage will include a message reading, “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.”
The state says the brand new law will affect roughly 2,400 establishments within the Golden State.
Establishments must make test strips available, either free of charge or a small charge to customers who request them. Test strips have been in the marketplace for a number of years, often distributed at colleges, universities and inside the U.S. military community.
![A hand holding a matchbox-sized kit to detect date rape drugs over a glass of liquid.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/2004-london-england-drinkers-use-57051034.jpg)
State Assembly member Jowsh Lowenthal of Long Beach – who owns three restaurants – introduced the bill to prevent sexual assault, according to local FOX 2 KTVU.
“We have now a crisis that’s happening that’s leading to sexual assault, that’s targeting primarily women and members of the LGBTQ communities,” Lowenthal said in a video presentation to the assembly. He’s a father to three daughters and said the crime is underreported.
“By means of example, I even have members of my staff which have been roofied, members of the legislative body which have been roofied,” he said.
![Sign indicating new law about alcoholic beverage license holders offering drug testing devices to patrons.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/new-law-mandating-certain-alcoholic-79144381.jpg?w=1024)
California is the primary state within the country to enact such a law.