MELBOURNE, Australia (CelebrityAccess) — While it’s always been a good idea to keep an eye on your drink in a public setting, a university in Australia is taking safety a step further after they developed a wristband that can detect the presence of drugs in a beverage.
Launched through a partnership with Australian creative agency Y&R ANZ and Monash University residential colleges in Melbourne, Australia, the ‘Safe Sip’ wristband was designed for festivals, concerts, and other public events.
The sensor looks and wears similar to a festival-style wristband, however, wearers can dab a little bit of their drink onto spots on the wristband that will change color in the presence of adulterants.
Trisha Prpich, director of Monash Residential Services, said, “Monash is invested in the safety and well-being of our students. We want to make sure our community is safe and well informed, and that includes encouraging everyone to drink responsibly.
“Sip Safe has the potential to provide users with an easy way to determine if their drink has been spiked with two of the most common drugs used in drink spiking.”
According to Sky News, the wristband has already undergone one test in 2017 at ‘Schoolies’ the Australian version of Spring Break and will be rolled out at a number of youth-oriented events in Australia this year.
“Launching Sip Safe with Monash University is an incredibly proud moment for us,” said Y&R executive creative director Jake Barrow. “It represents a milestone in the effective harm reduction and education of drink spiking. We hope the initiative goes on to make a difference throughout the broader community.”
While it’s an interesting idea, the idea of handy tests for drugged drinks is nothing new. In the past, similar ideas have been implemented in everything from beverage glasses and swizzle stick sensors to reactive nail polish that changes color when exposed to drugs.
