Thousands of bars and nightclubs across California will now be required to provide drug test kits and display signage aimed at reducing the use of date rape drugs, following the implementation of a new law on Monday.
Assembly Bill 1013: Key provisions
Assembly Bill 1013 mandates that approximately 2,400 establishments licensed to sell beer, wine, and spirits in the state take these preventative measures. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control specified that drug testing devices could include test strips, stickers, straws, or other devices capable of detecting controlled substances such as flunitrazepam, ketamine, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid.
The law, which was passed unanimously this year, was authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Democrat from Long Beach who is also a bar and restaurant owner. Lowenthal expressed hope that these measures would significantly reduce the incidence of “roofies” and other date rape drugs in nightlife settings. “The under-reported epidemic of drink spiking or roofying continues to plague California and the world,” Lowenthal stated in a news release about the law. “Although drink spiking can occur in almost any setting, it is more common in bars and nightclubs that serve alcoholic beverages.”
Implementation and signage requirements
In addition to providing test kits either for free or at a reasonable cost, bars must now display signage reading: “Don’t get roofied! Drink-spiking drug test kits are available here. Ask a staff member for details.”
Julie Kazmi, owner of a bar in Pacific Beach, California, and a survivor of a roofying attempt voiced her support for the availability of test kits but raised concerns about the wording of the required signage. “The verbiage on the sign really triggered me, and I have to, by law, hang that in my bar,” Kazmi told NBC San Diego. “As a 51-year-old woman, for me to see that and feel triggered, how is that going to make other women feel?”
Temporary measure
The provisions of Assembly Bill 1013 are set to expire on January 1, 2027, allowing time for the effectiveness of the law to be evaluated. With this new law, California aims to create a safer environment for patrons of bars and nightclubs by providing tools and information to detect and prevent the use of date rape drugs. Community and legislative leaders hope these measures will significantly decrease instances of drink spiking and protect vulnerable individuals.