Tiny device can detect spiked drinks – video

A crowd-funding campaign to produce a small, battery operated device that can test if a drink has been spiked has been launched by US developers.

The Personal Drink ID is the size of a cigarette lighter and flashes a warning light when dipped into a drink contaminated by drugs.

It uses technology developed by the US Drug Enforcement agency to test for common date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol, Zolpidem and other benzodiazepines. It is re-usable and can be linked to a smartphone.

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The Indiegogo campaign hopes to raise $100,000 (£58,000) to produce the gadget commercially. Developers say that if they reach their target the device could be available in just over six months.

According to the campaign, one woman in four will be sexually assaulted and a quarter of those cases will be "linked to alcohol and date-rape drugs".

"It's about personal protection, feeling secure, and it's about empowering our daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, spouses, partners, friends, co-workers and ourselves," developer David Wilson told Sky News.