Thousands boycott clubs to demand action against spiking and sexual harassment

On 27 October, thousands of young people boycotted their local clubs, bars and pubs and took to the streets to demand action on spiking and sexual harassment. The protest came as a response to the recent rise in drink spiking cases, as well as new allegations of spiking via injections.

Rise in spiking incidents

According to the the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), people reported nearly 200 drink spiking incidents to UK police in September and October. Spiking typically refers to the surreptitious addition of a drug to someone’s drink which can leave the victim incapacitated and unable to remember what’s happened. This method is often used to facilitate sexual assault. But this figure also includes 24 allegations of perpetrators using “some form of injection” to incapacitate victims. According to police, young women were disproportionately represented in reported cases. In response to what has been labelled a “spiking epidemic“, young women have spoken out about their experiences of gender-based violence.

Responding to the proliferation of unhelpful social media posts encouraging women to ‘stay safe’, campaign group Cheer Up Luv shared:

This is an absolutely horrific method of targeting women and marginalised folk in nightclubs, and especially student areas. Although we know that’s spiking is not limited to freshers week, there have been increased reports of this happening at towns all around the country.

— Cheer Up Luv (@_CheerUpLuv) October 20, 2021

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National Union of Students president Larissa Kennedy shared:

so fucking angry that women + marginalised folks on our campuses and in our communities cannot be free from the fear of violence. these spiking attacks are so terrifying.

— Larissa Kennedy (@Larissa_Ken) October 20, 2021

Fear-mongering and misinformation

The limited research on the practice of spiking via injection has left plenty of space for fear-mongering and misinformation. gal-dem‘s political editor Moya Lothian-McLean tweeted:

The panic about drink spiking via needles is Grade A social media misinformation in action

— Moya Lothian-Mclean (@mlothianmclean) October 21, 2021

Looking to “cut through the noise” regarding the rise in spiking incidents, Vice reporter Sophia Smith Galer shared:

So, while we talk about spiking this week, it’s worth remembering that the autumn spate is sadly not unusual nationwide, and also that it’d be wrong to assume it’s a uniquely ‘stranger danger’ issue. It’s also worth adding victims often don’t get the support they need.

— Sophia Smith Galer (@sophiasgaler) October 20, 2021

Emergency medicine consultant and founder of the Welsh Emerging Drugs & Identification of Novel Substances (WEDINOS) David Caldicott told Vice: “The idea that a clubber would do this to a fellow clubber seems highly unlikely”. He added that the phenomenon “has not been adequately investigated” to reach firm conclusions.

We have also seen a rise in misinformation around the allegations of spiking via needles and the contraction of HIV. Highlighting the harm this could cause, Ellie Redpath said:

keep in mind that the false posts about HIV and spiking going around are bad not only because it makes everyone unnecessarily scared, but also because it contributes to stigmatisation and panic around HIV, and thus subconsciously the queer communities who it historically affected

— Ellie Redpath 💫🕊️ (@inelliegant) October 20, 2021

Seeking to clear up misinformation on this front, the National Aids Trust shared:

If you have potentially been exposed to HIV in the past 72 hours (usually through unprotected vaginal/anal sex), go to A&E or a sexual health clinic.

You can take a medication called PEP, which greatly reduces your risk of acquiring HIV.

— National AIDS Trust (@NAT_AIDS_Trust) October 20, 2021

A nationwide ‘night in’

Sparked by recent social media conversations about the prevalence of spiking, young people in university cities up and down the country took part in a ‘night in‘ on 27 October. Thousands boycotted clubs and other night time venues, and took to the streets to raise awareness and demand action on drink spiking and sexual harassment.

Some have argued that protesting in this way encourages women to retreat rather than claiming space. But given the boycott resulted in clubs not being able to open, it proved to be an effective protest tactic. Sharing images from the boycott in Oxford, Oxford Students’ Union tweeted:

Afterwards, students went to the Clarendon steps for a demonstration showing the volume and strength of students’ feelings against spiking. There were speeches from student campaigners and local councillors on this topic. In the end, more than 500 students came to demonstrate! pic.twitter.com/0eLLM3uH3N

— Oxford SU (@OxfordStudents) October 28, 2021

Local politicians voiced their support for the campaign, and others attended protests in cities across the UK. Sharing images of campaigners and their banners at the Manchester protest – which mayor Andy Burnham attended – the Guardian‘s north of England editor Helen Pidd tweeted:

Hundreds of young people have gathered in St Peter’s Square in Manchester for the End Spiking Now protest. Banners saying: “I have never felt safe” and “Educate your sons”. #GirlsNightIn pic.twitter.com/waHrcoSsmJ

— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) October 27, 2021

Manchester councillor Jade Doswell also shared:

Tonight was so powerful; to march with over a 1000 people standing up against #spiking against women, demanding concrete change, and making it clear that it is male behaviour that needs to change, not ours. #girlsnightin pic.twitter.com/1yXrMDtEGg

— Jade Doswell (@JadeDoswelll) October 27, 2021

Expressing her support for the campaign, Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome tweeted:

After reports of spiking by injection, tonight women are boycotting clubs to put collective pressure on institutions to act.

I stand in solidarity with them.

We shouldn’t have to do this.#GirlsNightIn

— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) October 27, 2021

Next steps

Campaigners have launched a petition calling on the government to introduce a law making it a legal requirement for nightclubs to search guests on entry to venues. However, some have raised concerns that increased security and surveillance on nights out would disproportionately impact marginalised people. Summarising the potential consequences, one Bristolian shared:

enforcing searches on night club attendees will absolutely be weaponised against marginalised people, especially black men. Giving bouncers more power is not going to protect women from assault/spiking !!!!

— reegan (@reegnkay) October 18, 2021

Another Twitter user added:

i’m also sick of the lack of intersectionality when looking at the issue – security is often the problem! increasing that will not make this go away! obviously i do not have the answers but increasing searching is absolutely not it

— anna (@anna__cowan) October 19, 2021

The University of Warwick’s Anti-Sexism Society has expressed its commitment to seeking alternative ways to keep everyone safe in venues:

so look out for future announcements and campaigns.

Love and solidarity,
WASS
💜💜💜

— Warwick Anti-Sexism Society (@UOWASS) October 24, 2021

Campaigners are also urging venues to implement anti-spiking measures including “drink protection devices”, accessible medical centres, and safe ways to get home. Further protests are due to take place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and London. So far, the campaign has sparked meaningful conversations about the safety of people of marginalised genders in public spaces, and has prompted politicians to take the issue seriously.

Featured image via Michael Discenza /Unsplash