Tennessee lawmakers advance bill making drink spiking a felony

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) -- The Tennessee Senate passed an amended bill on April 2 that would classify drink spiking as a Class D felony, strengthening penalties for those found guilty of the crime. However, lawmakers removed a controversial provision that would have required bars to provide free drug-testing strips to customers.

The legislation is aimed at addressing growing concerns about drink tampering incidents, particularly in nightlife areas like Nashville.

Under current law, adulterating a consumable product with the intent to cause harm is already illegal.

The new bill builds on that by specifically targeting drink spiking. If enacted, offenders could face two to twelve years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

State Representative Bob Freeman emphasized that the goal is to ensure serious consequences for perpetrators.

"If someone is caught spiking someone's drink, they're going to serve some real time and pay real penalty for that," Freeman said.

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Originally, the bill included a provision requiring bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to provide free drug-testing strips. However, lawmakers removed that section, citing unresolved concerns about the accuracy, cost, and types of tests available.

Legislators say the bill was initially intended to address both criminal penalties and prevention measures, but has now been split into separate efforts. The issue of testing strips is expected to be revisited in future legislation.

Advocates say stronger enforcement is critical. Erika Gorman shared the story of a family member who was allegedly drugged while attending a work conference in Nashville.

According to Gorman, her relative experienced disorientation and memory loss, waking up in unfamiliar places and later learning that strangers had escorted him back to his hotel room.

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She believes more resources are needed, including better security measures and improved access to medical care for suspected victims. "People need to know they'll be taken seriously," she said.

While some bars in Nashville already participate in safety initiatives -- such as maintaining access to testing strips through a "Safe Bar" program lawmakers acknowledge that more work remains.

Officials say they plan to revisit the testing strip requirement next year as they continue refining the legislation to balance enforcement with prevention.

For now, the bill marks a significant step toward holding offenders accountable and raising awareness about the dangers of drink spiking.