Example of a Drink Safe Anti-Date-Rape Coaster

Drink Safe Technology, one of the many companies owned by Global Special Effects president and founder, Francisco Guerra, is in the media again.  Drink Safe Tech produces coasters that can easily test for the presence of date rape drugs in any beverage.  The coasters are becoming extremely popular in clubs and bars — especially those located near college campuses such as The University of South Alabama:

MOBILE, Alabama – University of South Alabama Police Chief Zeke Aull is warning women students about date-rape drugs and arming them with cardboard coasters that can detect such substances in a drink.

“We’re just trying to be proactive,” said the chief, adding that there has been no date rape reported on campus.

“We’re trying to create awareness.”

He handed out detection coasters on Thursday, explaining to students that they could test a drink by putting a drop of the liquid onto two spots on the coaster. If either drop turns to a darker color, it’s a positive test.

The coasters are made by Drink Safe Technology in Lexington, Alabama. Francisco Guerra started the company more than seven years ago after a friend was raped while on a date.

“He started thinking about the process and how he could help somebody in that situation,” said Beth Smith, a company employee.

Smith said most of the company’s orders come from universities. Each tester costs 40 cents, said Smith, and detects substances such as GHB and ketamine.

“It’s a cheap way to be safe,” she said.

Aull said the coaster is small enough to fit in a purse.

Tables in USA’s dining hall have a small placard that reminds students not to leave drinks unattended. A sample of the coaster is on the back of the placard.

As Aull talked with students, he also cautioned against leaving a drink at a bar or table unattended.

USA sophomore Shelby Day related the experience of a friend who blacked out during a fraternity party at another school, probably after something was slipped in her drink.

Day said the last thing her friend remembered was coming back from the bathroom and sitting down on the couch, then “she woke up in this guy’s room in the fraternity house.” Day said her friend was treated at a hospital.

Lisa Aguado, a USA junior, came to Aull’s Thursday meeting so that she could pass the information along to her sorority sisters.

“We wanted to come to get information for the other girls to keep them safer,” she said.

[Drink Safe Coasters are available for purchase at Drink Safe Technology's official website, DrinkSafeTech.com -- choose from a variety of prints, or you can also order custom coasters and blank coasters with instructions to print with your own logo and artwork.]

Related articles

• Original Article (al.com)
• GSE Helps Solve Problem of Date Rape Drugs (globalspecialfx.com)
• Authorities say teen overdosed on ‘date rape’ drug (newsok.com)
• North Bay girl died of ‘date rape’ drug overdose (sfgate.com)
• Does the date rape drug really make a person pass out? (zocdoc.com)
• Are there any long term effects associated with the date rape drug? (zocdoc.com)
• Aspiring actor accused of Hollywood date rape (abclocal.go.com)