A bar in Warrington has gone viral on TikTok after posting videos of them covering drinks.
PJs of Bridge Street, shared two short videos last week, showing the bar staff offering drink covers and stoppers. One of the videos has now racked up more than 13 million views and has received almost 3,000 comments.
The comments on the video range from supporting the club in their choice to offer drink covers, to lamenting the fact that it is now necessary for bars to offer covers.
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The same videos have been shared on PJ’s Instagram account, and while they have not received the same attention, have still been liked more than 300 times between the two videos.
One commenter, sabrinath48keitharmy said: “these should be in all pubs and clubs across the world.
Another, yozwofl, added: “One day we will have a world where nothing like this is needed, stay safe people.”
However, other viewers were unhappy that seeing bars offering covers for drinks is now becoming a norm.
Dr_jibs91 said: “the fact that these are needed is so sad”.
When asked, in the comments, if customers have to pay for stoppers or covers. The club responded: “Not at PJs”.
Late last year saw a rise in the number of spikings taking place in bars and nightclubs across the country. Bars and clubs in both the city centre and Fallowfield came under fire after alleged spiking incidents took place with students saying they didn't feel safe going out.
Clubs including ‘42s’ (42nd Street), on Bootle Street, and 256, Wilmslow Road, started offering cling film or drink covers to customers who were concerned about spiking incidents. Back in October, 42s Instagram account, 42snightclub shared a post about how to notice if your drink has been spiked and captioned the image with how the club is working to protect its customers.
The post read: ‘In light of recent cases of spiking in Manchester and the UK we are continuously working behind the scenes to make 42's a safe space for everybody. From tonight cling film will be available from behind either bar, so if you feel like you need to cover your drink, please ask a member of bar staff.
“In the meantime please take a look at the below images on how to spot drink spiking and how to assist your friends if you think they have been spiked.”
Following a boycott of clubbing for a night and a protest in the city centre, a call for action was made onto Andy Burnham to address the issue. Speaking to Mike Sweeney on BBC Radio Manchester back in November Andy Burnham discussed the issue.
He said: “We thankfully, I’ve checked with GMP, haven’t had many reports of this. Although there were some in the Fallowfield area at the time when the students were coming back to university.
“There was about five reports of drinks being spiked and we have looked into that."
The Mayor of Greater Manchester then spoke passionately about how this issue is 'one for the men'.
He said: “If you are aware of any mate of yours, or so called mate who does that, you should call them out immediately and if they won’t stop it you go to the police. It’s simple as that.
“I am aware of it having happened in my own sort of circles and it’s not right. I mean what kind of bloke in their right mind sees that behaviour kind of going on and thinks ‘oh well I’ll just turn a blind eye to that’.
“If you’re aware that someone you knows takes a syringe out with them… words completely fail me.
“This one’s for the men. This one’s for the boys. Get a grip, sort this out, don’t tolerate it. You know, we’ve all got mums, we’ve all got sisters, we’ve all got daughters. This, this is on us this one. Not on women, this is on us.
“Clubs do have to do more, so do men and boys.”
PJs have been contacted for comment on this.
