A young woman says she was involved in a suspected drink spiking incident during a night out in Wānaka over the summer holiday period, after a friend suddenly became unwell shortly after consuming a drink intended for her.

The 18-year-old, who asked not to be named, said she wanted to share the incident to increase awareness of drink spiking and the fact it can happen anywhere.

“Nothing came out of it this time but if I had drunk the drink, who knows,” she said.

The woman was out at a local bar with a group of friends on December 29 when a man who had been near her in line repeatedly tried to interact with her. At the bar, he stayed close as a friend bought a round of shots for the group. 

She decided not to drink her shot, instead giving it to a male friend.

After this, the man repeatedly made attempts to get her attention, ask her how she was feeling, and took her to a quiet area of the bar before a friend came to return her to the group.

It was after she went home for the night that she learned that the male friend who had drunk the shot had become very ill.

“He said it was scary because he said he felt paralysed; he could think straight but couldn’t move,” the woman said.

Her suspicions were raised further because she said none of the friend group were drug users and the round of shots was the only drink anyone had consumed while out at the bar.

She said she felt rattled in the days that followed.

“Even at Rhythm & Alps the days after I felt a lot more wary of watching my drinks,” she said. “I always had them in hand. It has definitely made me a lot more wary.”

Her friend, who lives in Wānaka, later went to the Police on her behalf, and said she was told the Police would visit the man and speak with him.

Both women said they were pleased with how the Police had handled the incident.

Speaking generally and not about any specific incident, Wānaka Police area response manager Sergeant Darren Cranfield said drink spiking is not common in Wānaka.

“However, we are not immune to it and it does happen, but is rare,” he said.

He provided some general advice for people drinking in licensed premises.

“Don’t leave your drinks unattended, if you have to then make a friend hold it,” he said. “Don’t accept drinks from strangers or someone who would not normally buy you a drink.”

“Stick together, if one of your mates appears unusually intoxicated when they have not consumed too much alcohol, look after them and seek medical help if necessary – never leave them alone.”

PHOTO: Stock Image