ONTARIO TACKLES DATE RAPE DRUG!

Liquor law change aimed at date rape
Patrons can take alcohol to washrooms
Goal is to stop spiking drinks with drugs
Oct. 17, 2006. 05:46 AM
ROB FERGUSON
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

She's not crazy about taking her drink into a nightclub
washroom to prevent it from being spiked with a date
rape drug.
But Theresa Palumbo is glad that option could soon be
legal under proposed reforms that would modernize
Ontario liquor laws dating to 1944.
"It's probably a good idea because date rape is very
serious," the Ryerson University student said yesterday
after Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips
unveiled the changes at a campus pub.
The big question is: Where's a young woman to put her
drink given the sanitary state of some bar bathrooms?
"People find it gross to bring drinks into the bathroom
anyway, so I don't know," said Palumbo, in her second
year of graphic arts management.
Phillips said the reforms, to be detailed in legislation
coming Thursday, are designed to be
more "consumer friendly" and would also:
Make it legal to stroll through a winery's vineyards
with a glass of the grape.
Permit makers of beer, wine and liquor to sell samples
of their drinks for a nominal fee on their premises.
Increase scrutiny for restaurants and bars seeking
liquor licences.
Allow pilot projects in which charity bingo
halls — hard hit by the government's tough new
anti-tobacco act that prohibits smoking in indoor
public places — could sell alcoholic drinks as a way
of boosting revenues.
Help is needed, but Ian Edward, executive director
of the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, said he's
not convinced booze at bingo is going to provide that
help given that about 70 per cent of regular clients
were smokers.
The changes aimed at reducing date rape emerged
as the "number one" issue during months of
consultations with the hospitality industry, police
and other interested parties, said Phillips.
But bars and clubs must apply to have their liquor
licences changed to permit drinks in washrooms,
he added. Government officials did not know how much
that might cost or how long it would take.
"We certainly hope there wouldn't be any cost associated
with it," said Michael Ferrabee of the
Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association,
which has been pressing for this change for years.
It's "completely ridiculous" to have to tell people,
especially women, not to take drinks into a washroom
given the risks of leaving drinks unattended, said
co-owner David Stearn of Rivoli, a popular club.
"We didn't feel comfortable insisting," added Stearn,
who added he's never heard of any date rape
incidents perpetrated at Rivoli.
As the law now stands, it's illegal to take drinks out
of a licensed room at a bar and go into hallways or
stairwells to washrooms. That would no longer be
the case if the legislation were passed.
"Patrons will never have to leave their drinks
unattended and risk someone slipping them
drugs," said Phillips.
"As society changes, so does criminal behaviour...
Times change and we have to change with the times."
Many bars and clubs place tables outside the
washrooms to patrons to place their drinks on.
"I don't know if I would leave my drink out," said a
bartender at Big Bop on Queen St. W. "If there's a
crazy kid out there, it's easy to do something."
British Columbia has allowed bar patrons to take
drinks into washrooms for four years, said government
officials, who did not have any statistics on the
prevalence of date rape.
But recent studies have shown it is an under-reported
crime because women are embarrassed or don't
realize what's happened soon enough.
Date rape drugs can be metabolized in as little
as 12 hours, leaving no traces in the bloodstream.
If the government wants to put a bigger dent in
date rape, it needs to do more than allow women
to take their drinks into bar washrooms, observers
said.
That means more public education for young men
and women about booze and how it can impact
judgment, said Caroline Rabbat, manager of the
community safety office at the University of Toronto.
She applauded the change aimed at reducing the
odds of drinks being spiked with date rape drugs
but noted: "Alcohol itself is still the date rape
drug of choice."
University of Toronto student Vincenza Mazzeo, 22,
told the Star's Phinjo Gombu that the government
proposal was only a "partial solution."
"The law can only work to a certain extent," said
Mazzeo, who was having a drink last night with a
friend at the Madison Avenue Pub near Bloor St. W.
and Spadina Ave. "After that it's up to the individual
to ensure that the drink is not spiked.
"You yourself need to make choices that ensure
you are not putting yourself in harm's way.
That would be not leaving your drink unattended
and making sure you are aware of where it is and
who is in your space at all times."
Aimee Garrett, 23, a human resources assistant
heading into a pub last night with two friends,
said the proposed law simply legitimized what she
always does.
"It's a good idea because I bring my drink to the
washroom regardless, so now I don't have to
hide it," said Garrett.
When it comes to where patrons could comfortably
place their drinks in washrooms, it will be up to
bars and clubs to provide suitable facilities.
"We'll most likely have more attendants in the
washrooms," said Nick Di Dinato, chief executive
of Liberty Entertainment Group, which owns clubs
including the Crystal Room, Phoenix Concert Theatre
and Courthouse Chamber Lounge.
Many bars will have to clean up their act, said
New Democrat Peter Kormos.
"Let's be frank. Taking your drink into the restrooms
of most of these pubs and taverns is in and of
itself is a pretty noxious proposition."
In the meantime, Palumbo, the Ryerson student, and
her classmate, Lara Deveci, are playing it safe.
"My parents always say don't leave your drink
unattended. I wouldn't let a stranger get me a
drink," said Deveci.
Palumbo said she usually finishes her drink before
going to the washroom unless she's with "close
friends, not just someone I've known for a month."