The perpetrator either wants to rob the victim or cause them physical and emotional harm, such as sexual assault.

Drink spiking is never funny, even as a so-called friendly prank. Just who, among your mates, is an expert in managing a substance-induced coma?

There will always be predators, in public places where alcohol is served, who are prepared to spike drinks in order to commit a crime, involving theft or assault.

It is difficult to anticipate a victim's response. They could become seriously ill or even die. Everybody has a story about how a friend's drink was spiked and had a bad reaction, or was spiked and was horrified at the clinical possibilities.

Penalties for drink spiking, especially involving crimes against persons, should include lengthy imprisonment, because the deed is calculated to incapacitate.

Policing the behaviour of patrons where alcohol is sold is understandably difficult, but licensees should take responsibility for their patrons and be prepared to involve police when drink spiking is detected or suspected.

For patrons, the health of mates and loved ones should be paramount. On a night out on the town look after them. Keep an eye on their drinks when they're absent and treat overtly chummy strangers with suspicion.

There are predators out there who would do harm just for kicks. Who would use spiking to prey on vulnerable revellers or simply to steal your purse or wallet.

Some predators are so clever they can spike your drink by a sleight of hand, right under your nose, and you wouldn't know until you had, hopefully, woken up.

It's a lethal, evil crime, designed to exclude the victim as a reliable witness.