How to avoid having my drink spiked in a bar
How do I avoid being the victim of drink spiking in a bar? (As in spiking to steal money or commit credit card fraud, not for sexual assualt)
Presumably I should avoid places promoted by touts from Africa. Are places advertised on the internet generally safe, or should I only go to places listed in reputable tourist guides?
Does it only happen at hostess bars, or does it happen at non-"adult" venues as well?
Does it only happen in a few districts in Tokyo, or does it also happen in other cities?
Best Answer
I would go further and say this is incredibly unlikely - if anywhere is going to sting you on cost they will do it 'legitimately' (that is, 'sitdown' charges, cover fees, high drink prices, 'door' charges etc).
I have a friend who works in a hostess bar, and whilst the concept is still a little sleazy, they are still businesses and stick to charging exorbitantly high prices for drinks and chat (much like a strip club or similar establishment), rather than actually committing a serious crime to rob you. No need - it's ridiculously risky.
To be ultra-cautious I'd say always use cash where possible rather than paying by credit card, but to be honest given how seldom my UK credit card is accepted this is rarely even an option.
This sounds like a single story has been blown way out of proportion more than anything else - of all countries Japan is probably the one in which this is least likely to happen (see my answer to another question about crime in Japan).
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How do I stop my bar from spiking?
Tips to prevent drink spikingBuy your own drinks. If you are at a venue that serves drinks, watch the bartender prepare your drink. Don't accept drinks from strangers. If you accept the offer of a drink from a stranger, accompany them to the bar and take the drink from the bartender yourself.How do I protect my drink at a bar?
Ways to prevent your drink being spikedHow do you prevent someone from getting spiked?
They include drink spiking prevention scrunchies, silicone glass covers and reusable metal straws attached to caps and covers. While these simple devices can be effective in preventing drinks being tampered with, they obviously can't protect clubbers from being injected with needles.What is the most common thing to spike drinks with?
Alcohol is actually the drug most commonly used in drink spiking. The use of other drugs, such as benzodiazepines (like Rohypnol), GHB or ketamine is relatively rare.People Show How To Protect Drinks From Getting Spiked At The Bar
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