Local authorities have been urged to use their licensing powers to ensure venues take action to prevent spiking incidents and keep customers safe by MPs.
The Home Affairs Committee warned that spiking will remain an 'invisible crime' unless action is taken, with most victims not receiving enough support after the incident.
It is calling for local licensing authorities to use their powers to ensures venues have adequate security and staff trained to identify spiking incidents.
The committee also wants local authorities to develop anti-spiking strategies that require venues with a bad track record for spiking to take improvement measures as part of their licence renewal.
Other recommendations include better data to determine how often and where spiking cases occur, the creation of a new spiking criminal offence, improvements to forensic testing for potential spiking victims, and more awareness about spiking.
Chair of the committee, Dame Diana Johnson, said: 'Spiking is an insidious act. Victims will often have little idea of what has happened, who spiked them, when it occurred or what has been put in their system. They are left with feelings of self-doubt and vulnerability. Yet, while the threat is well known, little has been done to prevent it from happening.
'There needs to be a concerted effort to stamp out spiking. Much more work needs to be done to improve understanding and awareness so that people are reassured that the help will be there should they need it. They need to know that they will be taken seriously and action taken.'
