What's happening
Austin's "Sip Safely" program, created through a $100,000 City Council budget request last summer, launched in April.
Through Sip Safely, participating establishments will have materials like drink spiking test kits and drink covers available for both patrons and staff. Informational flyers will be posted in bars and distributed in popular nightlife areas.
The city is also supporting training for bar employees on drink spiking response, sexual assault prevention and intervention, and opioid overdose awareness and naloxone use.
“This collaborative approach demonstrates the strength of our nightlife and entertainment community, and the commitment of the industry to educate and empower their staff to reduce the threat of drink spiking, keep victims safe if it occurs and report suspected incidents to the police," said Brian Block, Austin's nightlife and entertainment manager with the Development Services Department.
Most of those businesses are located around Austin's four downtown entertainment districts—Rainey Street, Red River Street, and East and West Sixth streets—although several in other locations have also gotten involved. While the program is focused downtown, any venue can join.
Quote of note
“We had heard from many constituents who both frequented Sixth Street and Rainey Street ... that they themselves had gotten a drink spiked, or a loved one. So it was a big enough problem. And for me, if it’s one person, it’s one person too many. So that’s why we took notice and worked on this item," said council member Zo Qadri, who sponsored the program's funding.
The context
Sip Safely is the latest in a series of city-sponsored measures centered around safety in Austin's nightlife and entertainment scene.
The program builds on the Safer Sixth initiative, which began in the wake of a mass shooting and ongoing safety concerns along East Sixth downtown. It also follows the city's heightened attention to security issues around the Rainey Street district last year following multiple deaths in the area.
“Austin’s entertainment districts draws locals and visitors from all over the world, and I’m so proud to have played a part along with my colleagues on the council in helping to introduce this pilot program that has the potential to impact all of them in such a positive way. And I’m so excited to say that Austin’s the largest city in the country to have a program like this," Qadri said.
More information is available at www.austintexas.gov/sipsafely.
