Washington bill aims to require bars to sell drug tests for spiked drinks
A new Washington State bill is aiming to require all bars to sell drug tests for spiked drinks.
Senate Bill 5330 was introduced in a legislative session Monday, which would require all businesses, licensed to sell alcohol, to sell drug tests for spiked drinks.
This would include hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and taverns.
'People should feel safe when they go out to bars and nightclubs, and we know that drink spiking is becoming a very real and serious problem,' said State Senator Manka Dhingra.
According to the proposal, businesses would be required to sell the tests at a reasonable price based on the wholesale cost of the kits.
A sign would also need to be displayed in a prominent area, reading, 'Don't get roofied. Drink spiking drug kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.'
Businesses would not be held responsible for defective tests or inaccurate test results.
State Senator Dhingra said the idea was brought to her by a group of students from Lake Washington High School after a similar bill was passed in California.
'We're seeing a rise in drinks that have been drugged, basically in order to rape individuals,' she told KIRO 7 News. 'This is about saying in this Washington, we do not tolerate sexual assault and this Washington, we are going to hold perpetrators accountable and do everything we can to stop this behavior from occurring.'
KIRO 7 News spoke with customers and business owners about the new proposal, including Jean-Paul Pirio, the owner of Time Out Ale House in Federal Way.
'Safety has to be number one,' he shared. 'You want to protect the customers. You want them to be safe and comfortable here, potentially add to that safety and make people more comfortable.'
While he supports the intention of the proposal, he said he also recognizes that other small businesses may push back because of the extra costs as many are struggling with high inflation.
'Restaurants historically are a low-percentage profit business. So, any new expenses potentially could take away from the profitability,' he said. 'I think it could definitely impact them.'
KIRO 7 News took this concern to Senator Dhingra.
'They don't charge for toilet paper or other necessary products. They are in a position to buy Vodka, beer and wine so this is a matter of getting used to making sure this product is available, and this is really about prevention. Because once people know this product is available, I do think that people who are interested in spiking drinks will think twice before engaging in this behavior,' she responded.
'We don't want them (businesses) to lose money over this. They should be able to charge a fair market rate to the customers,' she said.
Jennifer Rosentrater, a bartender, said she supports the idea as she is aware of the risks of going out at night to grab a drink.
'Women should be able to feel safe. You shouldn't have to worry about your drink if you get up to go to the bathroom, but unfortunately, in today's day and age, you have to,' she said. 'I think it's really sad. It's really sad that you even have to worry about that. As a woman, it's really important to feel safe when you go out, especially when you go out by yourself, and I think these kits will help that.'
However, Rosentrater said she believes people would only buy test kits if they believe their drinks have been drugged, adding that the bill may not go far enough to stop perpetrators who are discrete.
Senator Dhingra responded after KIRO 7 News shared Rosentrater's concern with her, 'We will not tolerate this behavior. We know it's occurring and here are some tools for us to identify what is going on, and if it's still is occurring, we do have statutes in place that are going to take it seriously and classify it as a level that they're engaging in drug-facilitated rape.'
The new bill would take effect January 1, 2026, if passed.
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