Urgent warning to anyone heading out this New Year's Eve over drink spiking dangers

A spiking expert has issued a grave warning for anyone heading out for New Year's Eve, advising drinkers to be extra careful on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Unfortunately, drinks spiking has been on the rise in the UK in recent years, with a 2025 Drinkaware study finding that nearly one million adults had experienced spiking in the last year.

The worrying data proves it's more important than ever before to have your wits about you while you're on a night out, especially on one of the busiest nights of the year for pubs and clubs.

Alex Bodikian, one of the co-founders of CounterSpike, which sells drug testing strips designed for preventing spiking disasters, has shared a number of red flags to look out for when you drink may have been tampered with.

Spiking has become more prevalent in recent years (Getty Stock Image)

Signs your drink has been spiked

The first red flag is if your drink has an unusual smell or taste, particularly if it's overly bitter or salty, which is a good indicator your drink has been spiked.

Another thing to look out for is any cloudiness in the liquid or any residue that might be floating in it.

If you notice a change in the colour of your drink, that could also be a sign of tampering, while drinks fizzing excessively may also indicate something has been placed in it.

How to stay safe from spiking

Alex has also shared his top tips to help prevent you from falling victim of a spiking attack this New Year's Eve, starting off with keeping your drink within your view at all times.

There are a number of steps you can take to keep yourself safe (Getty Stock Images)

"Never leave your drink unattended under any circumstances," he said. "Even leaving your drink unattended briefly can leave it open to the opportunity to be tampered with."

You should also stay with people you trust, so if the worst were to happen, you know they would look after you and seek help.

One of the most important things to remember, not just on New Year's Eve but all year round, is to trust your instincts and speak out if you feel like something isn't right.

If you do want to be extra cautious, you can also buy test sticks to use in any situation where you might feel particularly vulnerable or suspicious, as there's no such thing as being too careful.