Drug rape prevention crowdfunding

[lethargic_man]

I really don't have time to blog properly about this now, but nancylebov blogged yesterday about a Kickstarter-a-like attempt to crowdsource funding for straws and cups which change colour when date rape drugs are present. Go read her post, and then decide whether to contribute: they still need to raise $11,500 and only have 42 hours left to do it.

Comments

[bluepork]

Sounds to me like a good idea for a business, but a bad idea for society. Business ideas which thrive on people's fear, tend to do well. (Same is true for political rhetoric).

However, here's why I think its a bad idea for society:

1) Gives a false sense of security - your drink isn't safe just because the three most common date rape drugs aren't contained within it. People should be mindful and watch that their drink isn't interfered with. That's a much better way of dealing with the problem. Not 100% foolproof, but nothing is, including cups which change colour. "Smart" cups, if anything, are likely to discourage people to watch their drinks.
2) Gives the perps added incentive to use the fourth most common date rape drug.

There seems to scant evidence that sexual assault in which the victim is first drugged (against their wishes, as opposed to through excessive alcohol intake) is common. If we as a society end up pouring money into smart cups and straws, there is an opportunity cost to that. Personally, I would prefer to see such money spent on education about the issue.

[lethargic_man]

Whilst the points you make are good ones, the fear you refer to already exists. Indeed, just the other week I saw someone (possibly myself, I can't remember) try and give a drink they had not touched to a woman, who declined it and possibly poured it away, presumably for this reason.

If the danger is indeed low, then surely the risk of false negatives is outweighed by the positive of making people feel more secure? (If the danger were not low, I would not make this argument!)