While Hollywood's police are busy shooting blockbusters to keep you and your phone safe from wicked jezebels, West Hollywood is implementing a concrete solution for nightlife-goers who may be targeted for violent crime.
The city, which recently chose to re-route funding from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department to a local approach involving designated "security ambassadors," has started a program to hand out easily transportable kits containing five cocktail test strips to local bars and restaurants.
The strips go by the name "Test My Drink" and are also sold online in both English and Spanish versions.
The thin paper strips have two tests on each side and can tell someone whether or not their cocktail has been drugged identifying the presence of chemicals including ketamine, GHB, and Rohypnol, commonly referred to as "date rape" drugs due to their use by rapists who use them in powder, liquid, or pill form then place them in unaware victims' drinks to disorient and later assault or rob them.
All users simply need to do is put a drop of their drink onto the strip using a straw or finger to find out if it may have been spiked, which is indicated by the appearance of a color on the testing patch. The program follows an ordinance passed last year that requires anyone serving drinks at bars or clubs to undergo bystander intervention training that teaches staff how to intercede if they see someone who is intoxicated being taken advantage of.