It is often difficult when out to stay alert and be on your guard. Here are a few tips.

• Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be home.
• When going to a pub, club or party avoid going alone. Friends can watch-out for each other.
• Appoint a nominated drink watcher (your non-drinking driver?).
• Plan your journey or night out, arranging your journey to-and-from home.
• Alcohol does affect your actions and reactions, as well as your ability to be alert. Take care.
• Stay aware of what is going on around you & away from situations you do not feel comfortable with.
• Never accept a drink from anyone you do not completely trust.
• Do not share or exchange drinks.
• Don't leave your drink unattended, even when going to the toilet.
• Drugs can be put in soft drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc., as well as alcohol.
• There are a number of drugs that could be used to incapacitate you; the majority will not be easily detectable in a drink.
• Drinking from a bottle and keeping your thumb over the top is a good idea. Just remember that if you leave it unattended you may not be able to see if anything has been put in it.
• If you return to your drink and it has been moved, looks different, appears to have been topped-up, or tastes strange; don't take a chance. Test it with a Drink Detective Test. Test your favourite drinks, and be alerted to different reactions.
• Consider very carefully whether you should leave the pub, club or party with someone you have just met.
• If you begin to feel really drunk after only a drink or two, seek help from a trusted friend, or a member of the club or pub management. It is important to get to a place of safety as soon as possible.
• You must be sure you have absolute trust in the person you are asking for help, no matter how long you have known them. Date rape can sometimes happen after that person takes you to your own home.
• This can happen to men as well as women.

You cannot expect to remember a long list of prevention advice, every time you go out. Just be aware. If something does not seem quite right, guard against the possibility of it happening to you or one of your friends.