It's never your fault if your drink is spiked, at a festival or anywhere else. The basics are the same as any night out: buy or pour your own drinks, keep them with you, don't take an open drink from anyone, and stick with your group.
What changes at a festival is the setting: long hot days, big crowds, campsites and flat phones. For the everyday habits in more detail, see our guide on how to reduce the risk of drink spiking.
Can your drink be spiked at a festival?
Yes. The Better Health Channel says drink spiking "can occur anywhere drinks are served", and Queensland Police say it "can happen anytime, anywhere". Festivals are part of that.
What we couldn't find is any Australian figure on how often it happens at festivals. Festival health advice here is mostly about heat, water, alcohol and other drugs, and spiking tends to get a line or two. So we won't tell you festivals are riskier than a pub or a house party. The evidence isn't there.
The sources do agree on the substance. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) says drinks are usually spiked with alcohol: "Either the drink is stronger than you think, or someone has added even more alcohol." It describes spiking with GHB or Rohypnol as "quite rare". Better Health also says alcohol is the most common.
The person who spikes a drink is responsible. In the ADF's words, "it's never a person's fault if they're the victim of a drink spiking incident."
How can you lower the risk of drink spiking at a festival?
The everyday habits that fit a festival crowd best:
- Buy or pour your own drinks. The ADF notes that "many people have their drinks spiked by someone they know", so this goes for mates as well as strangers.
- Don't take an open drink from anyone. Queensland Police say "Don't accept an open container of drink from anyone."
- Take it with you when you dance. Better Health suggests screw-top bottles you can carry in your bag "when you go to the toilet or have a dance".
- Cover it in the crowd. Queensland Police suggest "a hand or coaster over a glass or your thumb over a bottle".
- Avoid sharing drinks (ADF), and pace yourself (WA's Sexual Assault Resource Centre, SARC). It's a long day.
If something feels off, don't wait it out. Queensland Police say: "If you feel very drunk in a shorter amount of time compared to the amount of drinks that you have consumed, immediately tell a friend or someone in authority." At a festival, that can be security, staff or the medical tent.
How do you look after your drinks at a campsite or multi-day festival?
We didn't find any Australian health or police advice written for campsites, but the general steps carry straight over:
- Bring your own drinks. Queensland Police: "Take your own drinks to parties."
- "Only accept drinks from trusted people" and "Watch your drink being poured" (Queensland Police).
- Don't take an open container from anyone, even back at your own camp.
- Go easy on shared drinks, like a bowl of punch or a bottle passed around the circle (the ADF says to avoid sharing drinks).
How do heat and water fit in?
They're what Australian festival health services plan for most. NSW Health says alcohol and other drugs raise the risk of heatstroke, "especially at outdoor events", and that alcohol makes you pee more, "which leads to even more dehydration". Its tips:
- "Drink enough water to stay hydrated, especially if you're drinking alcohol."
- "Sip, don't gulp", and be careful not to drink too much water either.
- Wear sunscreen and a hat, take breaks in the shade, and have warm clothes ready "for when the sun goes down".
WA SARC adds that "Alternating one alcoholic drink with one water is a good plan."
Free water and your own bottle
In NSW, the festival guidelines (NSW Health, October 2024) say free drinking water must be available at or near bars wherever alcohol is sold. Where you can't bring food and drink in, patrons should still be allowed to bring clear or visibly empty plastic containers to fill, and sealed bottles of water. That's NSW guidance, so check your own festival's rules before you pack.
Better Health says alcohol can be added to water or soft drink, and the ADF says to pour your own. Filling your own bottle at the tap is the festival version of pouring your own drink.
How do you stick together when phones die and crowds get big?
NSW Health puts it plainly: "Agree on a place and time to meet, in case you get separated. Don't rely on your mobile phone – your battery could go flat or the network could be overloaded."
- Charge your phone fully before you leave (NSW Health), and put your friends on speed dial (WA SARC).
- Pick a physical meeting point. NSW Health says some groups "coordinate outfits or use big brightly coloured props so they're easier to find."
- WA SARC suggests "a pact NOT to leave anyone behind at the event", with at least one person in the group sober.
- When you arrive, notice where security and first aid are (WA SARC).
Where can you get help at a festival?
NSW Health's advice: "Check the map before and at the event so you know where the medical tent and peer support / chill out tents are." Medical teams are there "to help, not judge", and "You won't get into trouble for getting help."
NSW Health names DanceWize NSW, Red Frogs and ACON Rovers as peer groups at NSW festivals.
- DanceWize is a peer-based alcohol and other drug harm reduction program. Harm Reduction Victoria has run it at Victorian music events since 1999, and the model has been used in NSW since 2017. It also offers gender-based violence and mental health services.
- Red Frogs has worked at music festivals and concerts since 2006, with free water, a chill-out area and crew "constantly roving" to help.
Separately, you may hear about drug checking at NSW festivals. After the NSW Drug Checking Trial (March 2025 to February 2026), the NSW Government announced that ongoing drug checking services will be available at up to 15 music festivals each year (NSW Health). It's a health service for drugs people choose to take, and it isn't related to drink spiking.
What should you do if a friend feels unwell or out of it?
Believe them, stay with them, and get help. NSW Health says "if someone tells you they're feeling unwell – believe them and get help fast", and "You're a mate, not a doctor, so don't be afraid to seek help for someone who is unwell."
- Don't leave them on their own. Victoria Police say anyone who feels "out of it" shouldn't leave alone or go to the toilets alone.
- Take them to the medical tent, or ask security or a peer support crew for help.
- Don't let them go off with a stranger (WA SARC).
If someone collapses, WA SARC's steps are: call an ambulance on 000, put the person on their side, keep them from further harm, and stay with them until medical help arrives.
What should you do if you think your drink has been spiked at a festival?
Tell someone straight away: a friend, security or the medical team. Don't head off on your own. NSW Health's message is "If you're not ok, please stay."
- Call 000 in an emergency. You can also report it to police on 131 444.
- If you think you were sexually assaulted, 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is open 24 hours.
- For alcohol and other drug support, the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline is on 1800 250 015.
- If you're struggling afterwards, Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) is there any time of day or night.
The signs to look for and what to do next are in our guide on what to do if you think your drink has been spiked.
Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault. You'll find more practical guides on the drink safety hub.
Sources
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation, What is drink spiking? (updated 5 Jun 2025) adf.org.au
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health), Drink spiking (reviewed 29 Aug 2023) betterhealth.vic.gov.au
- Victoria Police, Drink spiking (updated 28 Jan 2025) police.vic.gov.au
- Queensland Police Service, media release (31 Oct 2025) mypolice.qld.gov.au
- NSW Health / Your Room, Stay OK at Music Festivals (page last modified 1 Sep 2026) yourroom.health.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Health, Music festival harm reduction (page current as at 9 Oct 2024) health.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Health, Guidelines for Music Festival Event Organisers: Music Festival Harm Reduction (October 2024) health.nsw.gov.au
- WA Government, North Metropolitan Health Service, Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC), Safety at live music events (WA flyer, 2021) wnhs.health.wa.gov.au
- Harm Reduction Victoria, DanceWize (undated page, accessed 6 Oct 2026) hrvic.org.au
- Red Frogs Australia, Music program (undated page, accessed 6 Oct 2026) redfrogs.com.au
- 1800RESPECT, 1800 737 732 1800respect.org.au
- National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline, 1800 250 015 (listed at adf.org.au)
- Beyond Blue, 1300 22 4636 beyondblue.org.au