UK: Young women boycott nightclubs, bars to protest drink and needle spiking

Young women across the U.K. boycotted nightclubs and pubs on Oct. 27. The boycott was a protest against reports of drink spiking and needle spiking. Needle spiking is when people are drugged by needles in the back or in the leg. In the seaside city of Brighton, detectives said they were investigating six reports of women being injected. In recent months in the U.K., there have been many reports of drink and needle spiking. Police said there were 198 cases of drink spiking in September and October across the country, and 24 cases of people being injected while on nights out. The online campaign gained momentum in university cities like Bristol, Brighton and Nottingham. Organizers want to raise awareness about women’s safety. Campaign organizers said on Instagram that “spiking has become an epidemic.” (AP) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.