These Laval-made coasters can tell if your drink has been spiked

With just one drop,thesecoasters can tell if a drink hasbeen spiked.

AlcoPrevention Canada, a businessbased in Laval that sells drug testing products, partnered with a company in Florida to getthesedual-purpose coasters to market.

"The only thing you have to do is take one drop of your drink andput it on the test,"general manager StphaneMauraistold CBC Montreal's Let's Go. "It's very easy to do."

On one side, there's a spot to test for traces of ketamine and on the other side there's a spot to test for GHB drugs commonly used in date rape.

After one ortwo minutes,the test zones turn dark blue if those drugs are detected. Without a test, it's tough to tell whether a drink has been drugged.Ketamine and GHB are odourless and tasteless when dissolved.

Maurais said he'd been growing concerned about the drug spiking problem after learning how widespread the issueis acrossCanada.

"It looks like it's everywhere," he said.

This summer, there was alarge drug seizurein British Columbia. On P.E.I., there's an ongoing legislative committee looking at the problem of drug spiking, after recent media reports raised the issue.Last month inQuebec City,a bar was suspended after investigators linked over a dozen GHB spiking cases to the establishment.

Maurais said so farcolleges, universities and bar owners have showed their interest in the product.

One bar in Chicoutimi ordered 1,500 coasters.

Mathieu Roy, owner ofL'appartement bar ambiance, saidhe had been looking for awhile for something he could do to combat drink spiking after customers raised concerns about it.

He said he orderedthe coasters to send a message that drug spiking will not be tolerated athis bar.

"It's good to be aware and for people to have tools," he said. "It's easy to do and it's reassuring forthe customers."

Sofar, the bar hashad no tests come back positive.

The coasters cost Royabout two dollars a piece. Since handing them out to customers for free, Roysaid other bar owners around townhave swung by and askedto graba few coasters for their establishments.

While Maurais is still getting the word out about his company's new product, he has advice for anybody with or without a coaster: Don't leave your drink unattended and be cautious of accepting drinks from strangers.

"You don't want to take any chances with drink spiking," he said.