DrinkCheck for California venues
Bring DrinkCheck to your bar.
Drink tests for California bars and venues. A practical addition to the way you look after your guests.
Put DrinkCheck within your team’s reach, from a single bar to a group of venues. Shop the quantity you need, compare the price per test or talk to us about a larger order. Use the guidance below to bring product selection, stock and staff handovers together.
California law and ABC guidance checked · By DrinkCheck · US venue guidance
Why DrinkCheck
DrinkCheck. Ready for your venue.
Give your team a practical product to include in its guest-support setup, with purchasing options for your bar, your event or your next restock.
Meet your DrinkCheck A compact drink test for the counter, the staff station or your next event. Keep individually sealed DrinkCheck tests ready for guest requests.
- Tested by 3 independent institutes
- Testing information
- Individually sealed. Easy to hand out.
- Each single-use test comes in its own compact pouch, so you can keep stock organized and distribute tests individually.
- Your quantity. Your price per test.
- Choose from the current order quantities and compare quantity-based pricing. Talk to DrinkCheck about larger venue orders.
Follow the instructions for your product.
01 · Know the starting point
Current California requirements
Checked October 12, 2026: California’s drink-test availability requirement applies to Type 48 on-sale general public premises licenses. It has operated since July 1, 2024. These are California requirements, not a nationwide US mandate. Check your actual license and any applicable local conditions. Read §25624.
The statute names device formats and examples of controlled substances. ABC explains that one device does not have to test for all three named examples; it must detect at least one controlled substance used to spike drinks. This guidance addresses licensees’ duties, not approval of a particular product. Check the documentation for the exact product you buy against the device criteria; this guide does not certify DrinkCheck’s legal conformity. Read ABC’s October 9, 2026 device FAQ.
| Requirement | Who it applies to | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make drug-testing devices available within their expiration date or recommended use period; free, or priced within the wholesale-cost-based limit. | Type 48 license applicants and holders covered by the section. | §25624(b), (d), (f) | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Display the required notice prominently and conspicuously. Current wording includes drink lids. | The same Type 48 licensees. | §25624(c); ABC’s October 9 advisory; official notice PDF. | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Provide a drink lid on request, free or within the permitted price limit; operative July 1, 2025. | Type 48 licensees under the separate lid provision. | §25625 | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Contact law enforcement or emergency medical services when a customer reports suspected spiking; follow the section’s response duties. | Type 48 licensees; do not make help conditional on a test result. | §25624.5 | Oct 12, 2026 |
| ABC says AB 1982 (Chapter 377, Statutes of 2026) permanently extends these duties and presents two notice options. | The same Type 48 provisions. The online code still displays the 2027 repeal; timing is not resolved here. | October 9 advisory; chaptered text | Oct 12, 2026 |
ABC’s October 9 update and the online code. In Type 48 Licenses: Drug Testing Device and Drink Lid Availability Requirements Extended Indefinitely, ABC says AB 1982 has removed the sunset dates and made these duties permanent. It tells Type 48 holders to continue meeting §§25624 and 25625. The official history records approval and chaptering as Chapter 377 on September 20, 2026.
The sources still differ: on October 12, 2026, both online code sections retained the January 1, 2027 repeal and cited Stats. 2024, Ch. 714 rather than Chapter 377. The advisory cautions that it may not reflect current law. Neither it nor the chaptered bill text specifies an operative date for the amendments; this page does not resolve that timing. Confirm it with ABC or legal counsel before relying on the amended text.
The advisory presents an alternative printable notice as a licensee option. The existing combined lids-and-tests notice remains the other option; the advisory does not require every venue to replace it.
02 · Set ownership
Assign responsibility before opening
Make your availability plan easy to run: choose a lead and a backup, then give both access to purchasing records, product instructions and stock locations. Adapt these practical suggestions to the way your venue operates.
Make the role specific. The lead checks incoming product information and decides what still needs clarification. The shift supervisor confirms where usable stock is kept and who can retrieve it. The purchasing contact follows up on replenishment and unresolved supplier questions. One person may cover several roles in a small venue.
Leave a short handover note that another employee can act on: stock checked, earliest expiry, instructions available, access problems and the next review date. If a cabinet is locked, the plan needs an available keyholder. If the lead is off-site, the backup needs authority to resolve a missing-stock problem during service.
03 · Buy with the details in hand
Make a well-informed choice for your venue
When comparing drink spiking test kits for bars, look at the substance coverage, the evidence behind it and how the product fits your operation. Match the supporting documents to the exact version you plan to order.
Use this checklist to prepare a DrinkCheck inquiry or compare supplier offers. Keep product specifications and document references together so purchasing, stock checks and staff instructions all refer to the same item.
The public Evidence and Use page does not currently publish the original laboratory reports or instructions. Request those documents for the specific item you plan to buy; the checklist below is a purchasing aid, not verification of product performance.
| Information to request | Why it matters | What to confirm for your order |
|---|---|---|
| Exact product version and item identifier | Connect the quote, shipment, instructions and evidence to the same item. | Item identifier and the matching instruction and report versions. |
| Original instructions and revision date | Establish the intended use, suitable beverages, procedure and interpretation. | The original document for the item offered, including its revision date. |
| Specified detection scope and limitations | Distinguish a named substance from evidence of detection under stated conditions. | A matching report stating the substances, conditions and limits evaluated. |
| Storage conditions and handling restrictions | Assess whether receiving, storage and service arrangements are suitable. | Version-specific storage and handling instructions. |
| Expiry, lot identification and remaining shelf life | Check actual units on arrival and schedule removal before expiry. | The remaining shelf life offered and the lot and expiry on delivered units. |
| Reports, methods, test conditions and false results | Review what was evaluated, by whom, and where the findings stop. | Original reports, laboratory identities, methods and findings for that version. |
| Written quote and any customization specification | Record item, quantity, artwork scope, charges and agreed delivery terms. | An individually confirmed offer and any agreed customization details. |
04 · Keep the limits clear
Get to know your DrinkCheck test
Drink screening concerns a sample of a beverage. It does not diagnose a person, establish what someone consumed earlier, or determine whether an assault occurred. Medical assessment and any clinical or forensic testing are separate processes handled by professionals.
Read the product’s documented scope and instructions before adding it to your venue’s routine. Keep that information available for staff and guests who want to understand the test. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS provides general guidance on drink screening.
“Roofie test” is a search term, not a defined substance panel. Ask for the precise specification and supporting documents before describing a product’s capability to staff or guests.
Use the instructions that match the product you stock: place one drop on the pink and one on the yellow strip (two drops in total) and read the result after 15 seconds. A negative result does not guarantee that a drink is safe; do not delay help for a test. Notes on individual drinks and storage are in the package leaflet. If anything is unclear, ask DrinkCheck for the correct document before preparing your staff guidance.
05 · Make availability practical
Plan stock and access around your venue
Start with a defined period: a set of shifts, a scheduled event or a purchasing cycle. Count the stock you can actually use, checking expiry and any unresolved storage issues. Separate that count from units awaiting clarification or an expected shipment that has not arrived.
Estimate demand from your own operation. Consider previous requests, the number of service points, opening patterns and planned events. When there is no history, record a provisional estimate and the assumptions behind it. Use that record to build a stock level around your venue rather than a generic tests-per-guest ratio.
Decide where a request starts and where staff retrieve the material. A venue with several bars may need a different access plan from a single-counter operation. Check that a guest can find staff and that retrieving a test does not leave another responsibility uncovered.
Set a review point for replenishment using observed use and the supplier’s confirmed terms. Do not treat an estimated delivery date as stock on hand. Review any gaps before the next shift and record who will resolve them. Keep this operational plan alongside your review of the applicable requirements.
06 · Put the plan in writing
Your venue planning worksheet
Use this sheet for a first discussion or a shift-planning review. Leave quantities open until you have a basis for them. Enter zero only when you have checked and found no usable stock. Update the sheet when the product version, storage arrangement or responsible person changes.
All fields are optional. Entries stay in this page until you leave or reload it; download your copy to keep them. Nothing is sent to DrinkCheck. Use this for operations planning, without guest names or incident details.
07 · Make room for questions
Handle guest questions respectfully
Keep the conversation calm and direct. These example responses give your team a starting point; adapt them to your checked procedures and the instructions for the tests you stock.
When a guest asks for a test
Guest: “Can I get a drink test?”
Staff: “I can check our available DrinkCheck tests and get the instructions for you. Are you asking about availability, or do you need help right now?”
When a guest reports feeling unwell
Guest: “I think something was added to my drink. I don’t feel right.”
Staff: “Thank you for telling me. Let’s get help now; you do not need to wait for a drink test. I’ll alert the person in charge and stay with you while we contact help.”
08 · Carry it into the next shift
Give the team a clear handover
A practical briefing answers three questions: where are the materials, who handles a request, and what happens when someone needs help? Use the actual storage location and current instructions, so the briefing matches tonight’s operation.
Ask a colleague to explain the access plan back in their own words. Check whether a new starter, temporary employee or closing supervisor can find the same information. If a handover relies on one person’s memory or private phone, make an accessible copy for the team.
Record unresolved questions without guessing the answer. A missing instruction document belongs on the follow-up list; it should not turn into a staff-created testing procedure. Keep emergency contacts and response duties separate from purchasing tasks, and review both with the relevant people.
Pair this operational briefing with the Responsible Beverage Service training your team needs. ABC maintains the approved RBS drink-spiking curriculum requirements.
09 · Help comes first
When someone needs help
In a US emergency, call 911. Give the location, explain what happened and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not delay care to obtain a drink-test result or complete paperwork. National 911 Program guidance.
If someone may have been poisoned, Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222 connects you with a poison expert. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking advice. If someone is not breathing, call 911 immediately. HRSA Poison Help guidance.
After a possible sexual assault, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides support around the clock: call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or use its online chat. A guest does not need a positive drink test to seek support.
California Type 48 licensees also have specific duties when a customer reports suspected spiking: contact law enforcement or emergency medical services and provide the information specified in §25624.5. To the best of their ability, staff must follow responders’ instructions and monitor the affected customer until responders arrive. Review these duties with your team.
10 · Choose DrinkCheck for your setup
From your first order to your next restock
Bring DrinkCheck drink tests into your purchasing plan with a quantity that fits your operation. Check the current product options and per-test pricing, then use your stock record to plan replenishment as you learn what your venue needs.
DrinkCheck is designed in Germany. Bormann Bioscience LLC is the company behind the brand; see our legal information. For an order covering multiple venues or an event calendar, tell us about your locations, purchasing cycle and any customization you want to discuss.
Keep the exact product version, original instructions and supporting evidence with your purchasing records. The Evidence and Use page explains the current public documentation gaps. If a document is missing, ask for it before deciding whether the product meets your venue’s needs.
11 · Bring DrinkCheck to your venue
Choose your next step.
Ready to buy, comparing options or planning across locations? Choose the route that fits where you are today.
Make your inquiry easy to answer
Include your venue, locations, intended period and estimated quantity. Mention the product documents you want to review and whether you want to discuss customization. Our venue worksheet helps you bring those details together.
The wholesale form requires a quantity band; if your estimate is still open or no band fits, use Contact. For a quoted order, confirm the item, quantity, price, shipping, taxes, remaining shelf life and any artwork requirements in writing. Delivery timing, minimum quantities, customization and payment terms are confirmed individually.
12 · Questions from venue teams
Frequently asked questions
Which California venues are covered?
The state provisions summarized here concern Type 48 on-sale general public premises licenses. Start with your license category, not just whether you call the business a bar, lounge or nightclub. Do not assume another category is covered—or free of other obligations—without checking. See §25624 and ask ABC about your circumstances.
Is AB 1982 already in effect?
ABC’s October 9, 2026 advisory says the sunset dates have been removed and the duties are permanent. The bill is chaptered, but the online code checked October 12 still shows the January 1, 2027 repeal. Neither the advisory nor the chaptered text specifies when the amendments become operative. This page does not resolve the discrepancy or assign that date. Check the dated legislative update and confirm the position with ABC or legal counsel.
Does any roofie test qualify?
No product qualifies simply because its label uses that phrase. ABC’s FAQ explains the device criteria and says it does not recommend particular products. Review the exact version and evidence. The phrase “roofie test” does not describe a substance panel, and this guide does not determine DrinkCheck’s compliance.
Can we plan stock for more than one venue?
Keep a planning worksheet for each location, with its stock, responsible person and next review date. Bring the estimates together in a purchasing brief. For a larger order, request a venue quote and include your locations, quantity range and intended timing so delivery arrangements can be discussed.
What product documentation should a venue request?
Ask for the exact item/version, original instructions, specified detection scope, limitations, storage conditions, expiry information and matching original reports. For reports, look for the method, tested beverages and concentrations, and false results. Use the procurement matrix to record document references and keep unanswered points visible.
How do we buy DrinkCheck for our venue?
Shop DrinkCheck to see current quantities and prices, or request a venue quote for a larger order. You can also contact us with product questions before estimating a quantity. The wholesale form requires a quantity band, so use Contact if your estimate is still open.
Are customized options available?
The wholesale page invites customization inquiries. Ask what is available for your proposed order and request a written specification before relying on it. Confirm artwork scope, quantities, costs and timing individually. Customized artwork does not change a test’s documented detection scope or establish legal conformity.
Must we give tests away for free?
Under §25624, covered venues may provide them free or sell them within the statute’s limit based on wholesale cost. Do not assume any retail markup is permitted. Have the person responsible for pricing check the wording and retain the relevant purchasing information.
How many tests should we keep on hand?
This guide does not set a universal count or a tests-per-guest ratio. Use your opening pattern, service points, observed requests and confirmed replenishment arrangements to form an estimate. The worksheet keeps your usable stock, additional estimate and next review separate. Unknown demand should stay visibly provisional.
Can a drink test tell us whether a guest needs medical care?
No. Beverage screening does not diagnose a guest or replace professional assessment. Take a report seriously, follow your response duties and use US emergency or poison-help services as appropriate. Do not ask someone to wait for a test, a manager’s purchasing decision or a completed form before getting urgent help.
13 · Keep the sources close
Sources and next steps
California code, AB 1982 and ABC’s October 9 advisory checked October 12, 2026; other guidance checked September 8, 2026. Use this operational guide alongside current official requirements and appropriate professional advice. This page has not received a completed legal or medical professional review.
- California law: §25624 — tests and notice; §25625 — drink lids; §25624.5 — response duties.
- AB 1982 (Chapter 377, Statutes of 2026): chaptered text, history, status.
- Implementation: ABC’s October 9, 2026 advisory and FAQ, existing notice PDF, and alternative notice PDF. Check these alongside the dated code discrepancy above.
- Help and limitations: National 911 Program, HRSA Poison Help, RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS.
- DrinkCheck: Evidence and Use, product detail page, US wholesale inquiries, Contact.
Make DrinkCheck part of your next shift.
Explore the product, choose your quantity and bring a clear stock plan to your team. For larger orders, request a venue quote.