A Galentine’s-themed fundraising event held on 12 February raised £680 for Stamp Out Spiking, as students highlighted drink spiking and nightlife safety ahead of Valentines day.
The glass-painting event, organised by the Cocktail and Mocktail Society, brought together 12 Strathclyde Student Union societies and attracted around 120 attendees. All proceeds were donated to the charity, which campaigns for awareness, prevention, and legislative change around drink spiking.
Spiking, which involves giving someone alcohol or drugs without their knowledge or consent, either through their drink or by injection, can affect behaviour and memory. It ranges from giving more alcohol than requested to more serious forms of drugging.
Kiera Jennings, president of the Cocktail and Mocktail Society, said: “Everyone knows about spiking, but they don’t necessarily think about it.
“Students go out every week, especially in Glasgow, where nightlife is such a big thing, and that’s why awareness is so important.”
People aged 18 to 25 account for 54.7 per cent of reported spiking cases, placing university students among the most affected groups. Organisers said holding the fundraiser during Valentine’s week, a period often associated with nights out and increased alcohol consumption, was a deliberate decision aimed at promoting safer nightlife.
In addition to fundraising, organisers distributed anti-spiking resources and shared information on how to recognise and respond to suspected spiking incidents.
“I didn’t want the society to just be seen as a good way to get drunk,” Jennings added. “I wanted it to be something more meaningful.”
The event also included a raffle supported by donations from participating societies, helping push the total raised beyond initial ticket sales. Further fundraising initiatives are planned later in the semester, including a charity gala in March.
One attendee, Inez Macintosh, a Forensic Science master’s student at the University of Strathclyde, said the cause resonated personally after she suspected her drink had been spiked during her first year as an undergraduate at the University of the West of Scotland.
“It was at a flat party, and I’d only had one or two drinks,” she said. “All of a sudden, I was on the floor, throwing up everywhere. That’s when I realised something wasn’t right.”
She said the experience changed how she approaches nights out. “I’m much more aware of my drink now. I never leave it unattended, if I go to the toilet, I give it to a friend I trust,” she said.
The Cocktail and Mocktail Society said it hopes the event encourages students to look out for one another during Valentine’s week and beyond, while supporting charities working to tackle drink spiking at a national level.
Hi, I’m Julia Braun Raven, a second-year Journalism, Media & Creative Writing student. I’m co-Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor, and I love creating stories that matter to students, inspiring them, supporting what they’re passionate about, and celebrating their achievements. I’m especially interested in arts, culture, and student life, and I enjoy bringing energy, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to every piece I work on.
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