PUBS, clubs and bars in Newport city centre are being given thousands of free drinks covers as part of the battle against drink spiking.

Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) has purchased 12,500 Stop Topps to distribute free of charge to members of the scheme in the licensed trade to help protect revellers as the Christmas party season gets into full flow.

Stop Topps are adhesive foil covers for drinks. They are suitable for glasses, bottles and cans.

Produced by a not-for-profit community interest company, the covers are made from small (100mm) sheets of aluminium foil, through which a straw can be inserted for easy drinking.

The foil has food and hygiene approved glue on the underside so they stick securely on the top of any drinking vessel. This makes it difficult for anything to be added to a drink without the customer’s knowledge.

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Newport Now manager Kevin Ward said: “There has been a considerable increase in reports and incidents of drink spiking across the UK, including Wales.

“It is important that people feel safe when they are on a night out and, along with other measures being taken by licensees and the police, we think making these drinks covers available freely to businesses and their customers will help.

“We expect delivery of the Stop Topps within the next fortnight, and we will then be distributing them via our Street Ambassadors to pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants for them to provide to their customers free of charge.”

Full details of how BID members can access this free service will be published at newportnow.co.uk – once the Stop Topps are delivered to the BID.

BID members must agree to provide the covers free to their customers to take part in the scheme.