A popular Adelaide live music venue has warned partygoers to stay alert after being made aware of several suspected drink spiking incidents across the CBD in recent weeks.
The Ed Castle Hotel on Currie Street issued a warning to patrons on Monday, encouraging them to be extra mindful of their drinks, report any suspicious behaviour to bar staff and avoid leaving drinks unattended.
The venue said it had been made aware of an increasing number of drink spiking incidents occurring across the city, with staff also discouraging customers from accepting free drinks from strangers.
A staff member told The Advertiser the warning was issued after police visited the venue last week and informed staff about recent suspected spiking incidents in the city.
The Ed Castle is currently serving as the temporary home of Adelaide’s iconic Crown and Anchor Hotel, better known as the Cranker, which was saved from redevelopment but temporarily closed in July 2025 to undergo renovations.
The warning comes as hundreds of suspected drink spiking incidents are recorded across Australia, while criminal proceedings remain relatively rare.
Two months ago, Sunrise reported that Queensland Police were taking a tougher approach to suspected drink spiking in Fortitude Valley, with every reported incident now triggering a full detective-led investigation.
The move came after multiple reports from patrons in the Brisbane nightlife precinct and was designed to ensure allegations were properly investigated rather than treated simply as routine complaints.
Former Detective Sergeant Peter Moroney has also spoken about the difficulties police face when investigating drink spiking allegations, particularly when victims do not report incidents immediately or when there is insufficient evidence to identify what was placed in a drink.
In July, a woman was taken to hospital after allegedly having her drink spiked at the Phoenix Hotel in Gympie. A fellow patron reportedly noticed suspicious behaviour around the gaming area and later near the woman’s drink.
Police obtained CCTV as part of their investigation, although an official drink spiking report had not been made at the time of reporting.
A separate alleged incident at the Kooroora Hotel at Mt Buller in Victoria has resulted in court proceedings. Police allege MDMA was placed in a woman’s drink during a night out in July 2025. The accused denies deliberately spiking the drink.
And there was the tragic case in 2024 of teenage girls Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, who died after their drinks were spiked in a Laos bar.
Patrons who believe they have been spiked have reported sudden intoxication, confusion, memory loss and feeling significantly more affected than expected.
Police have urged anyone who believes their drink has been tampered with to seek immediate assistance from venue staff, security or police, followed by medical attention and a formal report.
Drink spiking is a serious criminal offence across Australia, but the penalties vary between states and territories, with offenders facing fines and jail terms that can increase significantly when spiking is linked to more serious crimes such as sexual assault or robbery.
For anyone heading out, the advice is pretty simple: keep an eye on all drinks (alcoholic or not), flag anything suspicious with staff and don’t wait to get help if something doesn’t feel right.
For venues, the incidents are also a reminder of the importance of having clear procedures in place for suspected drink spiking, including training staff to recognise warning signs, responding quickly to reports from patrons and preserving CCTV or other evidence where possible.
Creating an environment where customers feel comfortable approaching staff can also play an important role in helping people get assistance quickly.
