Tempe Council Adopts Drink-Spiking Education and Prevention Ordinance, Effective Aug. 1

Tempe City Council on Feb. 5 unanimously approved an ordinance that requires many alcohol-serving establishments to make drink-spiking test kits available and funds a city-led education campaign aimed at students and nightlife patrons.

Supporters say the policy will give patrons low-cost tools to detect tampering and help police investigate suspected incidents. Councilmember Randy Keating, who led the ordinance process, said the measure’s goals are to “increase patronage and public awareness around drink spiking, strengthen Tempe’s nightlife safety, and deter would-be predators by signaling strong enforcement accountability.”

The final ordinance, adopted 7-0 with agreed revisions, requires participating bars and night venues to carry a minimum inventory of test kits (10 to start), allows establishments to offer optional drink covers, and creates an incentive program that can reduce a qualifying establishment’s annual liquor-license renewal fee by 25% for those that provide covers. The city moved the ordinance’s effective date to Aug. 1 to allow time for outreach and implementation. The police department will maintain separate test kits for investigative use; police are not expected to stock kits for public distribution. The chief of police may grant exemptions for venues where the requirements do not further the ordinance’s intent (for example, some senior-living venues or other non-nightlife locations).

The council also approved several technical changes proposed on the floor: moving the ordinance’s definition of “drink spiking” into the specific code subsection, confining exemption language to the drink-spiking section, and adjusting signage requirements so required lettering is a minimum of one-quarter inch instead of one inch.

City communications staff outlined a draft education plan that would use partnerships with the Tempe Coalition, Arizona State University outreach, Rio Salado College contacts, event tabling, digital channels and signage with QR codes linking to resources and victim services. Chris Baxter King, the city’s communications director, said the campaign will be expanded if the ordinance moves forward.

Advocates, survivors and industry groups offered public testimony in favor. Dania Sherman of NOPE/No More pledged “close to $50,000” in drink-test kits to kick-start availability, and Shiro Bernarde, CEO of Nightcap, said his company would provide 30,000 drink covers and 60 dispensers through a partner. Industry representatives including the Arizona Restaurant Association described working with the city to address technical and liability concerns and expressed support for the collaborative approach.

Survivors’ testimony underscored motivations for the ordinance. A student who testified virtually said she believes her memory loss from a night out was the result of a spiked drink and told council that having testing options and visible signage “could have changed my night.” Lieutenant Greg Bacon of the Tempe Police Department told the council that early testing could improve evidence collection and victim reporting.

Councilmembers asked staff to return with implementation details and evaluation metrics; the council agreed to an issue review about the ordinance’s progress approximately one year after implementation. The ordinance will take effect Aug. 1, 2026, and staff will coordinate outreach, partner funding, and an education rollout prior to that date.