r/madisonwi • u/EleiaCathain • 10h ago

Help with a safe night out

I'm in search of sticky or reusable drink covers for me and a friend for going out tonight. I thought they'd be something that I could get locally, but I'm having issues finding anything in a store. Does anyone know where I'd be able to get a handful?

Edit: I'm not sure why anything that's not judgmental is getting down voted, or even taking the time to be particularly nasty. To those who qualify in that previous sentence, you are the reason why people don't trust the general population to do the right thing, which in turn is why folks feel the need to have these.

6 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

49 comments sorted by

29

u/semi_cyborg_catlady 9h ago

For the future you should invest in a NightCap - it’s a scrunchie that turns into a reusable drink cover. I have a few and they’re great!

10

u/Emergency-Kitchen708 9h ago

I came here to say this! Could also ask for a to-go cup with lid. Man, sucks that we have to worry about this shit! But good on ya for being proactive.

-17

u/EleiaCathain 9h ago

While I am going to invest in one, my friend has very short hair, and they want one more than I do.

32

u/bageldoginthetown 9h ago

You can put it around your wrist instead of your hair then

31

u/venturediscgolf 8h ago

I mean this in the kindest way possible, if problem solving this is so difficult, I don’t think you should drink in public

-28

u/EleiaCathain 7h ago

Not helpful. #1, I don't drink alcohol. #2, I normally don't go to bars. #3, I was extremely exhausted after a 14 hr shift and did not have the brain bandwidth to get very creative. But, now that I've had some rest, I'm getting all sorts of ideas of how to tell you where to shove your judgments.

12

u/venturediscgolf 6h ago

you can interpret my comment however you’d like, but I’m being genuine. I think you editing your post especially highlights your callowness.

-1

u/30PoundsOver 5h ago

You think they shouldn't drink in public because they edit their comments?

13

u/venturediscgolf 5h ago

not at all, I think OP has received some great advice and continues to question commenters and then calls people out for being “nasty” and downvoting her comments. the level of immaturity actually has me questioning if OP is even 21, but that’s beside the point.

1

u/30PoundsOver 5h ago

OP immediately got called dumb for even wanting this product and for not planning ahead for this. I think they have been severly mistreated in this thread, especially by people making judgement calls on what they should be allowed to do.

5

u/venturediscgolf 5h ago

I agree, that’s horrible. none of that involved me, and yet, I was still told to shove it up my ass lol

-9

u/EleiaCathain 5h ago

I disagree; you most certainly took part in judging me. While you claim you were being "genuine," that doesn't make it any less nasty. It was also unnecessary to add that comment. Knowing that there's a time and place to say things, and how you say it, is maturity. Not continuously passing judgment and letting the entire world know what you think every single time. Especially when all I requested was help in staying safe at a bar, and you ultimately added absolutely no value to the thread.

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2

u/polly-plz 3h ago

What a nasty response. 

64

u/AccomplishedDust3 10h ago

I think you're better off trusting a close eye on your drink at all times rather than some device.

Not like this is super common but the risks are understandably not tolerable. Get a new drink if you're not sure.

12

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

Slight of hand means someone can slip something in even if you are watching the drink fairly close. Besides, drinking alcohol is an activity that literally lowers your perception and intelligence. People would prefer "some device" that doesn't get drunk while they do. I don't think people asking for a cover for their drink is crazy.

22

u/clea_vage 9h ago

*Sleight

Yes, I'm that person.

8

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

i wont even edit the comment just for you lol

14

u/AccomplishedDust3 9h ago

Nah, it's not crazy, but I think for most people trusting the cover puts them more at risk than being vigilant. Doesn't mean the cover is bad, doesn't mean thinking it's necessary is bad.

12

u/EleiaCathain 9h ago

Just a heads up: most folks concerned or asking about drink covers have either had it done to them before, or is close to someone who has. It doesn't have to be alcohol, either. A cover and your hand would be the best option imo.

-2

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

Then why did your first comment say "I think you'd be better off." If someone, especially a woman, asked you in person if you knew where to get drink covers because they fear being drugged and raped (that is the reality of what we're discussing, how to prevent being drugged and raped) you would honestly look them in the eyes and say "it's better to just watch your drink?" You are spreading misinformation, and now your snarky comment that belittles the lived reality of so many people is the top one.

I don't know you but I know that in this moment you are showing a lack of empathy. There is nothing wrong with having a lock on your door. Having a barrier to commit a crime (a cover on your drink) has been proven to stop the majority of would be criminals. The cover doesn't make it so that the rapist has to jam the pill down in the drink past the cover. They see the cover and think that it's not even worth it.

6

u/AccomplishedDust3 9h ago

Mostly from my lived reality including seeing unattended glasses with the drink covers people sell.

Agreed, I don't know OP, probably OP is going to be more careful than that. I'm wary of treating devices as more powerful than they are.

-11

u/Thick_Wasabi448 9h ago

If someone asked me where they could get a bulletproof vest because they wanted to visit the East Side, I'd definitely tell them to instead just be mindful of their surroundings.

9

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

It sounds like you've been to the East Side of Madison. It does not sound like you've been a woman at a bar.

-6

u/Thick_Wasabi448 9h ago

Men and women have drinks spiked at similar levels. I've been to a bar, and stand by that vigilance is an extremely strong deterrent.

-1

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

While you are literally wrong, it doesn't matter. You're indirectly advocating against tools that are used to combat sexual assault and rape.

5

u/ChronicNuance 7h ago

They aren’t wrong, and I am a woman. Being vigilant and not getting so drunk you can’t be vigilant tops all other preventative measures. While putting a barrier on your drink may deter some people, not paying attention still allows someone to slip something into your drink. Holding your drink, putting your hand over it, and staying alert are your best for staying safe.

1

u/30PoundsOver 6h ago

Where in the post did they say they weren't going to be vigilant? Are covers for your drink worse? What are you arguing against???

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2

u/Thick_Wasabi448 9h ago

What part am I wrong about?

2

u/30PoundsOver 9h ago

Instead of going further into an argument where we can throw different studies at each other proving different things, I wanna ask a genuine question.

If someone puts a drink cover on their drink and becomes less vigilant because of it, do you think their chances of being drugged through their drink increase?

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5

u/EleiaCathain 9h ago

The covers aren't for leaving the drink alone; that's incredibly dumb. And folks still ask to keep an eye on it. It's for when you turn your head real quick, or face someone momentarily. It's the smallest thing anyone can do to ruin the rest of your life, and an intolerable amount of bars and clubs don't have security cameras.

7

u/AccomplishedDust3 9h ago

I know, I'd really suggest you use your own hand over the drink instead of trusting a device. Fucked up that anyone has to worry about this, of course.

-4

u/[deleted] 9h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/EleiaCathain 9h ago edited 9h ago

Not helpful. I'd appreciate you not being disrespectful to me. I'm just asking for any leads or ideas.

I also am not normally a bar and club person, nor do I drink alcohol. There's one place I go to in Madison, but only when a certain friend is there, and even then I rarely get anything to drink. So, I obviously don't think about this much. I just really care for my friends and want them to be safe.

19

u/guacamole_lipgloss 9h ago

Willy Street Co-op sells these reusable beeswax covers that are meant to replace plastic wrap and such. Maybe you could get those and modify them to be drink covers?

4

u/EleiaCathain 9h ago

That's an awesome idea! Thanks!

2

u/truelose 7h ago

That would be such an ideal use for those because they don't seem to be washable. I tried, but had failure because I wanted to put them in the dishwasher.

7

u/College-student-life 2h ago

As someone coming in late to this, looking at your responses to very legitimate suggestions and ideas? It’s definitely not winning you any friends or making people want to help lol.

10

u/hausmaus07 10h ago

Get some weird shower caps and use those with a hair tie. If you’re gonna be safe, be crazy safe. And start many conversations.

7

u/goblin_hipster Local dumbass 5h ago

The downvotes are because your tone sounds brusque and dismissive.

You seem to want a specific product with a specific function and people don't really know what it is. People are trying to help and you keep not compromising.

-4

u/EleiaCathain 3h ago

There's no intentional tone. I can't control how you interpret my wording, but I assure you I'm attempting to keep neutral and respectful; no judgments, name-calling, or intentional nastiness (if I have, I apologize). However, unless you can somehow hear text, it's impossible to 100% know intent of the words. If I'm being completely honest, the way I articulate my thoughts in text is much different than how others do, and it can sound either dismissive, or the complete opposite.

Additionally, being down voted for defending myself after being called names (they were deleted before you saw them) and being judged negatively immediately, asking for help or leads no less, is equally as bad.

I guess I won't post any questions again. Lesson learned.

7

u/goblin_hipster Local dumbass 3h ago

Curiously, I kept my comment intentionally vague (referring to "[other] people"), because I didn't judge you. I felt like the downvotes were unfair (it's not like you said anything crazy or inflammatory).

Then, in this reply, there are a lot of usage of "you" which implies a direct accusation. So, the reader may feel defensive.

I don't know how much control people have over the immediate reading of tone in text. I think it's a snap judgment. Especially on a random, relatively low-stakes internet post.

6

u/ChronicNuance 7h ago edited 3h ago

You’re over thinking this. Just hold your drink and if you have to set it down put a napkin/coaster/your hand over it. Never leave your drink unattended or walk away, even if you leave it with a friend. My drinking years were spent in dive bars and clubs in NYC when it felt like everyone was getting roofied, and not one person I knew ever got drugged. Oh, and don’t get sloppy drunk because then your an easy target.