Berlin club Berghain has shared a new harm reduction and safety awareness policy via its website amid a rise in reports of spiking in clubs.
A note on the club’s new awareness webpage reads: "Take care of each other and respect other people’s personal space – previously unwritten rules need to be spoken out due to a rise in needle / drink spiking of clubgoers. While it is important to note that such unwitting, non-consensual and devious assaults happen rarely, every case is one too much – encroaching behaviour is not acceptable, drugging others is a crime and dangerous: offenders are being permanently removed from the premises and reported to authorities."
The new harm reduction policy outlines steps that everyone can take to minimise potential danger, such as drinking water, being well-rested, not accepting liquids from others, and using the KnowDrugs app, which includes up-to-date information and alerts on substances and harm reduction practices.
The venue’s policy also encourages people to speak up or turn to staff when they witness "non-consensual behaviour, encroaching behavior or unsafe experiences," and includes an email, support@berghain.de, that people can contact if they wish to report a negative experience in retrospect. Further information outlined on the club’s dedicated webpage includes steps on what people can do if they start feeling unwell, or are affected by sexualised violence, and mental and physical health support resources and contacts.
The online outline of a harm reduction policy follows a number of recent reports of needle spiking taking place at Berghain and other Berlin clubs. In May, the Berlin-based DJ and producer Zanias shared her account of what she believed to be a needle spiking incident, which ultimately led to her being ejected from the club. Berghain drew criticism at the time for the way staff allegedly went about dealing with the situation.
