Latest news with #SenateBill5330
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington could require bars to carry spiked drink drug tests
(Photo by) They're not old enough yet to drink in bars, but a group of Washington students wants to make nightlife in the state safer. A bill in the state Legislature requested by Lake Washington High School students aims to protect people from drink spiking. The measure would require some establishments selling alcohol, including bars and nightclubs, to have testing kits on hand so patrons can see if their drinks have been drugged. Sponsors amended the bill this week in light of concerns of overreach lodged by a hospitality trade group. Businesses covered by the proposal would also have to post a notice that test kits are available. Bars would sell the test strips, stickers or straws to customers for a 'reasonable amount based on the wholesale cost of the device.' Usually, the tests look for drugs like Rohypnol, also known as 'roofies.' When placed in alcoholic drinks, the drugs can incapacitate people unexpectedly so they can't resist sexual assault, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The tests also detect ketamine and gamma hydroxybutyric acid. 'As a group of young women entering college, we are scared for our future,' Lake Washington senior Ava Brisimitzis told a Senate panel last week. 'While nightlife is still years away, there are thousands of Washingtonians right now affected by this problem. No one should question whether or not they might return home safely.' Senate Bill 5330 would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. It has a committee vote set for Friday. The proposal is patterned after a similar law passed in California that went into effect last July. That law affected 2,400 establishments. When a drink is spiked, 'many times, it's too late to prevent that person from falling victim to another crime, and that's why prevention awareness is so important,' said Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, the bill's prime sponsor. Critics said the original bill in Washington goes far beyond the California law. The initial version included taverns, nightclubs, theaters, hotels and more. The California legislation only applies to establishments like nightclubs that exclude minors and aren't required to serve food. Last week, Washington Hospitality Association lobbyist Julia Gorton said the bill 'needs many more conversations.' The hospitality association would support a version like California's law, said Jeff Reading, a spokesperson for the trade group. Now, a revised version of the bill looks to more closely align Washington's proposal with California's by focusing on establishments that don't allow minors. Washington's unusual liquor licensing system has made drafting the bill difficult, Dhingra said. The state simply has too many types of licenses. She wants to 'clean up' Washington's liquor license statute. 'This is really not meant to be onerous, but really meant to be a partnership to make sure all the patrons are safe,' Dhingra told the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee last week. California's legislation also stated the signage must say 'Don't get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here.' But Dhingra felt that language may be seen as blaming the victim, so the new version of the Washington bill doesn't require specific verbiage in the sign. A 2016 study published in the American Psychological Association's journal Psychology of Violence found nearly 8% of 6,064 students surveyed at three universities believed they'd been drugged.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington proposal would require bars to sell drug tests for spiked drinks
The Brief Lawmakers in Olympia are considering requiring nightclubs, hotels and other places that serve alcohol to sell testing kits for spiked drinks. While proponents say the legislation is important for public safety, some businesses are trying to hit the brakes. The bill is championed in part by a class from Lake Washington High School. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Lawmakers are considering requiring nightclubs, hotels and other places that serve alcohol to sell testing kits for spiked drinks. Proponents say the legislation, championed in part by a class of high schoolers, is important for public safety. Though some businesses are trying to hit the brakes. What they're saying "People should feel safe when they go out to bars and nightclubs," said State Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) "And we know that drink spiking is becoming a very real and serious problem." Heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee Monday morning, Senate Bill 5330 would require bars, theaters and other places that serve alcohol to sell drug testing kits for spiked drinks. Dhingra, the prime sponsor of the bipartisan legislation, said the businesses could charge a market-rate price for the strips, stickers or other testing devices. While they would have to put up signs saying tests are available and check that they have not expired, the businesses would not be responsible for a defective test. "This is about just the alarming number in the rise of drug-facilitated rape that we're seeing," Dhingra said. "And I think as a state, I think we have to say that that culture needs to stop." She said a group of Lake Washington High School students in Kirkland pitched the bill to her. The group said they helped make the bill as part of their AP Government class and TVW's Capitol Classroom. "To be here today to speak to senators, have other people even testify in support or raising concerns with our bill – it was so cool to see the process first hand. It was so amazing for us," said Lake Washington senior Kira Ulrich. The students looked to similar legislation that became law in California – though that bill only covered bars and nightclubs. They even called businesses across the state to gauge their interest in the requirements. Why you should care While they are not of legal age to be drinking, the students said sexual assault, whether drug-induced or otherwise, can happen to anyone and have a lasting impact. "We have first-hand accounts of how often this happens and how life-changing it can be," said Lake Washington senior Addie Hafermann. "So it's just absolutely essential that something like this be passed so we can really make people be safe." "We really need to think about the survivors, victims or soon to be victims, and we just really need to do something to be proactive and preventive," Ulrich said. "And a big part of this bill is not only to give patrons some control and protection, but build awareness." An industry group representing restaurants and hotels supports bars being required to sell tests, but expressed concerns about the requirement extending to other businesses. They also spoke about the additional costs for businesses to stock a product they have never sold before and keep track expiration dates. "Businesses that cater to family and children should retain the option to offer these products and post signage about sexual assault," said Julia Gorton with the Washington Hospitality Association. "We look forward to continuing the conversation and aligning the bill with the California approach, but this bill needs many more conversations." Dhingra said she is looking forward to conversations with businesses to iron out concerns on signage and where the requirements apply. But ultimately, where there is a bar, there should be a way to test a drink. "This is really not meant to be onerous, but really meant to be a partnership to make sure all the patrons are safe," she said. "You never know who's around you and by putting in these safety procedures and allowing bars to sell these products to customers will protect everybody in Washington," said Lake Washington senior Ava Brisimitzis. Senate Bill 5330 is scheduled for a committee vote on Friday. The Source Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Las Vegas Raiders hire Pete Carroll as head coach, sources say Renton PD: Son threatens mother, talks about 'demons' before her murder Scammer charged for swindling $14K from 71-year-old WA woman Auburn police officer sentenced for 2019 shooting death of homeless man Cluster of tremors felt near Snoqualmie, WA after 3.5 magnitude earthquake To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX Seattle FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
