Daily News (Los Angeles)

New law will let customers know if their drink is spiked

- — B.L., Reseda — R.M., San Gabriel Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, an

Q

There is a law that lets you find out if your drink has been roofied, but not sure how it works. Can you spell it out?

A

First, studies have suggested that drink spiking may be underrepor­ted. It also can be difficult to catch the perpetrato­r. A victim may become disoriente­d or incapacita­ted, mistaken for being drunk, and preyed upon.

Now, bars and nightclubs in California will soon be required to offer customers a way to test if their drink has been spiked. The new law becomes effective July 1. The establishm­ent is to offer drug-testing devices to patrons, either free of charge or for a reasonable cost. Further, the establishm­ent must post a notice that says: “Don't get roofied! Drink spiking drug test available here. Ask a staff member for details.”

You can read more online by typing “AB 1013 drink spiking” in your web browser.

This is the California statute that addresses willfully “mingling” any poison or harmful substances with food, drink, medicine or pharmaceut­ical product when the person knew or should have known that the substance would be taken and cause injury. Such conduct is a felony, punishable by imprisonme­nt for two, four or five years. In addition, if a poison or harmful substance is used that may cause death, or which results in the infliction of great bodily injury, an additional term of three years can be added.

Q

I saw this young guy get liquored up at the bar, but did not keep track after I moved to sit at a table. Later, I heard the person got into a car crash. Any chance the bar is on the hook for that?

A

The statute on point is California Civil Code Section 1714, which sets forth that a bar providing alcoholic beverages to an intoxicate­d person will not, in most instances, be held liable for harm that the individual causes. There are exceptions: (a) If an adult knowingly serves alcohol to a person under 21 years old, the adult can be liable for any damages caused by the underaged drinker. This liability can arise if the adult knew, or should have known, the person to whom he or she was providing alcohol was under 21. And (b) If the employee of an establishm­ent that is licensed to serve alcohol provides booze to an “obviously intoxicate­d minor,” the employee can held liable for harm the minor causes. their marriage now is stronger than ever and their belief in God has helped them, discussing the importance of faith and prayer.

Lizzy Canales wrote in the book that meant essentiall­y burning down the old marriage while bringing forth something entirely new from the ashes.

“Many are shocked when we tell them,” the couple wrote. “For some it is incredibly uncomforta­ble and maybe even convicting. For others it is like a breath of fresh air and an invitation to go deeper into their own relationsh­ips.”

The couple have four children.

In the book's foreword, former NFL coach Tony Dungy wrote: “Unlike so many couples today, they didn't let their marriage wither away. They wouldn't let it go. So instead, David and Lizzy resolved to get things back on the right track and rediscover that sense of purpose and that intimacy they had at the beginning. I'm happy to let you know they have done just that.”

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