The Scottish Government opened a consultation on protections for women and girls that included three questions about spiking.
Why this matters
It sought views on current law, the benefits of a dedicated offence and how reporting could be encouraged. It explained that existing offences already covered these behaviours.
As background, section 11 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 addresses administering a substance without the person’s knowledge to incapacitate them for sexual activity. That purpose requirement helps explain why the consultation considered a broader response, alongside clearer communication about protections that already existed in Scottish law.
Context matters
The publication is a consultation, rather than new legislation. Its response period closed on 31 August 2026.
The date refers to the linked original publication. This summary preserves the context at that date.
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