Drink spiking is when someone adds alcohol or drugs to another person's drink, alcoholic or not, without them knowing. It can happen at Schoolies like anywhere else, and it's never the victim's fault. Get or pour your own drinks, keep them with you, stick with your mates, and if someone feels unwell, don't leave them alone.
Schoolies is a big celebration, and for a lot of people it's the first week away from home with friends. This guide is for school leavers and for parents. It covers the simple drink habits that work whether you're drinking water, soft drink or anything else, how to look out for each other, and where to find help. For the everyday habits in more detail, see our guide on how to reduce the risk of drink spiking.
What is drink spiking, and can it happen at Schoolies?
The Queensland Government's Safer Schoolies team describes drink spiking as "adding alcohol or drugs to someone's drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, without their knowledge or permission." It says spiking "can occur at any time and can be done by anyone, even mates." Queensland Police say it "can happen anytime, anywhere, including licensed venues, small gatherings, and private parties", and they put out that reminder for "the festive season and Schoolies period".
We couldn't find any figure on how often spiking happens at Schoolies, so we won't put a number on it or call it common.
What the sources do agree on is the substance. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) says that at Schoolies, drinks are "more commonly spiked by adding extra alcohol rather than a drug." The Better Health Channel notes that spiking includes putting alcohol into water, soft drink or juice. That matters at Schoolies, where plenty of people aren't drinking alcohol at all. In Queensland it's illegal to drink alcohol at Schoolies if you're under 18 (Safer Schoolies), and the steps below work just as well for a can of soft drink as for anything else.
How can you lower the risk of drink spiking at Schoolies?
From the Safer Schoolies team, Queensland Police and the ADF:
- Get or pour your own drinks. That includes water and soft drinks. Better Health's advice is "Don't accept drinks (including water) from strangers."
- Keep them with you. Safer Schoolies: "Don't take your eyes off your drinks or leave them unattended."
- Don't share or swap drinks. The ADF notes drinks can be spiked "by people you know as well as strangers."
- Stick to sealed or screw-top bottles. Safer Schoolies suggests "drinks in bottles with screw-top lids."
- Watch it being poured. If someone you don't know well offers to get you a drink, the ADF suggests going with them and watching it being made.
- Cover it in a crowd. Queensland Police suggest "a hand or coaster over a glass or your thumb over a bottle".
- Get a fresh one if in doubt. Better Health: "If you all hit the dance-floor, buy new drinks afterwards." If it tastes or looks different to what you asked for, pour it out and get another.
If you start to feel strange, tell a friend straight away. Safer Schoolies says if you "feel sick or dizzy or lose control of your lower body (can't walk), ask someone you trust to take you to a safe place", and if you suspect spiking, "don't risk it – always call Triple Zero (000)."
Is spiking a mate's drink as a joke OK?
No. Safer Schoolies is clear: "Drink spiking is illegal – even if it's done as a joke." NSW Health notes that drinks are sometimes spiked "for amusement", and Queensland Police call it "a serious criminal offence".
Topping up a friend's soft drink with alcohol, or adding a double shot without asking, counts. If you see someone doing it, you can call it out, tell security or a volunteer, and make sure the person whose drink it was gets a fresh one.
How do you look out for your mates at Schoolies?
Much of the official Schoolies advice is about sticking together. From Safer Schoolies, the ADF and Better Health:
- Never go out alone. Safer Schoolies says "Always go out with at least 1 other friend."
- Agree on a meeting place, in case phones go flat or you lose each other in the crowd.
- Don't let anyone walk back alone. If a friend wants to head back, go with them or ask a volunteer to walk them home. If they get a ride, wait until they're in it and ask them to share their location (ADF).
- Going back to someone else's place? Take a friend with you (Safer Schoolies).
- Have a code word your group can use if someone feels uncomfortable and wants to leave without explaining (Better Health).
- Watch for "toolies". Better Health describes them as people who aren't school leavers, often adults, who "take advantage of young people who have been drinking or taking drugs". Don't go off with someone you've just met.
- Pack the basics. A charged phone, photo ID, and $20 tucked away for a taxi or public transport (Safer Schoolies suggests your shoe).
What help is there at Schoolies?
On the Gold Coast, Schoolies Week runs 21–27 November 2026. The Queensland Government, the City of Gold Coast, community groups and volunteers run a free support network (Safer Schoolies):
- The Schoolies Hub on the beach at Surfers Paradise is "a fenced, alcohol and drug-free entertainment precinct" for Year 12 school leavers with an official Schoolies wristband. No toolies.
- The Emergency Treatment Centre on the Surfers Paradise Esplanade gives free emergency medical treatment "with a non-judgement approach", staffed by doctors, nurses and paramedics.
- Volunteers in bright orange vests patrol each night, walk people home and look after anyone who is unwell.
- Recharge Zones are free, private spaces to rest and rehydrate, open nightly from 7pm to 1am.
- Red Frogs volunteers offer walk homes and support in accommodation. Their hotline, 1300 557 123, runs 24 hours during Schoolies Week. It isn't an emergency line, so call 000 in an emergency.
Schoolies (called Leavers in some states) happens in other places too, and the set-up and dates differ, so check your event's official site before you go. Heading overseas? Smartraveller says to "be alert to the potential risks of drink spiking and methanol poisoning", and reminds school leavers that local laws apply: "Even if you're under 18, you may be treated as an adult".
What should you do if you think a drink has been spiked?
Act straight away. Don't wait to see if it passes.
- Stay with them. Safer Schoolies: "Don't leave them alone or with a stranger."
- Get help. Find a volunteer, security or the Emergency Treatment Centre. If someone can't be woken, is acting strangely or collapses, call 000.
- Don't let worry about getting in trouble stop you. Safer Schoolies says the health of your friend "is the main concern of emergency services", and that when someone under 18 is very unwell, calling 000 won't get them in trouble with the police unless there is "aggressive or dangerous behaviour".
- Report it. Queensland Police ask people who think they've been spiked to "seek immediate assistance and report it to police". For non-urgent reports in Queensland, call Policelink on 131 444.
Support, any time:
- Kids Helpline, for 5 to 25 year olds, 24/7: 1800 55 1800
- 1800RESPECT, if you think you were sexually assaulted, 24 hours: 1800 737 732
- National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015
- Beyond Blue, any time of day or night: 1300 22 4636
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.
What can parents do before Schoolies?
A short chat before they leave goes a long way. Using the official advice:
- Know the plan. Better Health suggests leavers tell family where they're going and who with. Safer Schoolies suggests their friends know how to reach you in an emergency.
- Talk through the drink habits above, including that soft drinks and water can be spiked too, and that spiking a friend's drink "as a joke" is illegal.
- Make sure they know help is free and non-judgemental, and that calling 000 for a friend is the right thing to do.
- Save the numbers in their phone: 000, the Red Frogs hotline if they're going to the Gold Coast, and Kids Helpline. Safer Schoolies also suggests the Emergency+ app and setting up Medical ID on their phone.
- Going overseas? Read Smartraveller's Schoolies advice together.
Whatever happens, spiking is never the fault of the person whose drink was spiked. You'll find more practical guides on the drink safety hub. If they're heading to a music festival this summer too, our festival guide covers crowds, heat and campsites.
Sources
- Queensland Government, Safer Schoolies, Alcohol and other drugs (last updated 10 Nov 2025) saferschoolies.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Safer Schoolies, Support (last updated 21 Sep 2026) saferschoolies.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Safer Schoolies, Schoolies Hub (last updated 5 Aug 2026) saferschoolies.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Safer Schoolies, Simple safety tips (last updated 9 Mar 2026) saferschoolies.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Safer Schoolies, About Schoolies Week and Safer Schoolies (last updated 18 Sep 2026) saferschoolies.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Police Service, media release (31 Oct 2025) mypolice.qld.gov.au
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Staying safe on Schoolies (25 Oct 2024) adf.org.au
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation, What is drink spiking? (updated 5 Jun 2025) adf.org.au
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health), Partying safely at schoolies (reviewed 16 Nov 2022) betterhealth.vic.gov.au
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health), Drink spiking (reviewed 29 Aug 2023) betterhealth.vic.gov.au
- NSW Health, Your Room, Tips to stay safe and have fun during schoolies 2023 (6 Nov 2023) yourroom.health.nsw.gov.au
- Smartraveller (Australian Government), Travel safety for Schoolies (last updated 18 Aug 2026) smartraveller.gov.au
- Red Frogs Australia, Schoolies/Leavers (undated page, accessed 7 Oct 2026), hotline 1300 557 123 redfrogs.com.au
- Kids Helpline, 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.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