10312025 MINUTES APPROVED DRINK SPIKING EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SUBCOMMITTEE.PDF

Minutes of the Drink Spiking Education & Prevention Council 
Subcommittee meeting held on Oct. 31, 2025, 12:02 p.m. at Tempe City Hall, Council 
Chambers, 31 E Fifth St, Tempe, AZ 85281 and via Microsoft Teams. 
 
Members Present: 
 
 
 
 
 
Councilmember Randy Keating – Chair 
Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid – Member 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
City Staff Present: 
 
Rosa Inchausti, City Manager 
Lisette Camacho, Deputy City Manager 
Greg Ruiz, Interim Chief Deputy City Manager 
Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager 
Eric Anderson, City Attorney 
Keaton Hill, Council Assistant 
Erick Moreno, Communications Specialist 
Parrish Spisz, Council Assistant 
Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant 
Vanessa Lopez, Council Assistant 
Ty Lee, Council Assistant 
Mariana Pena, Council Assistant 
Neha Ahmed, Mayoral Intern 
Anastasia Stinchfield, Social Services Supervisor 
Kimberly Sotelo, Senior Management Assistant 
Shauna Warner, Director, Neighborhood Services 
Kris Baxter, Director, Communications & Marketing Office 
Shawn Wagner, Deputy Director, Community Services 
Linda Cano, Special Events Manager 
Robert Baer, Director, Municipal Budget Office 
Jacqueline Webster, Deputy Director, CHHS 
Quincy Carrillo, Council Assistant 
Laura Calder, Director, Financial Services 
Greg Bacon, Lieutenant 
Rachel Heintz, Assistant City Attorney 
Bernadette Coggins, Director, Coalition Program 
 
Public/Stakeholders: 
Minutes 
Drink Spiking Education & Prevention  
Council Subcommittee 
Oct. 31, 2025

Sierra Mark 
Shirah Benarde 
Danya Sherman 
Lori Foster 
Ally Dykstra 
Alberto Plantillas 
Tim Gomez 
Lainey 
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Call To Order 
Chair Keating called the meeting to order at 12:02 pm. Chair Keating and Vice Mayor Garlid are 
in attendance. Councilmember Hodge is absent.  
 
Agenda Item 2 – Public Appearances 
There were no public appearances. 
 
Agenda Item 3 – Approval of Meeting Minutes  
Vice Mayor Garlid motioned to approve the Sep. 26 Council Subcommittee minutes. 
Councilmember Keating seconded. The minutes were approved. 
 
Agenda Item 4 – Presentation on Stakeholder Engagement (Keaton Hill, Council 
Assistant) 
Councilmember Keating and staff met with three local bars and restaurant owners—Pedal 
Haus, University Grill, and Outlaw Distillery—to discuss a potential drink spiking prevention 
ordinance. Outlaw Distillery expressed strong interest in supporting media and outreach efforts, 
while other establishments acknowledged the ordinance’s benefits but expressed hesitation 
about being early adopters due to public perception concerns. 
 
A recap of a meeting between Chair Keating, Councilmember Hodge, and representatives of 
ASU Greek Life was shared. Both fraternities and sororities expressed interest in supporting the 
ordinance. Sororities showed strong enthusiasm for both the preventative and reactive safety 
measures, while fraternities were supportive but somewhat less engaged. 
 
Staff also presented findings from an ASU Student Government tabling event, during which 175 
drink-spiking test kits were distributed and 186 students completed a survey. Results showed 
that approximately 11% of students reported being victims of drink spiking, and 57% either had 
been victims themselves or personally knew someone who had. Nearly 80% of students 
reported that drink spiking was “common” in local nightlife settings. Of the 69 respondents who 
specified where an incident occurred, 28% said it happened at a bar or nightclub. 
 
These findings highlight the need for the City of Tempe to adopt an ordinance requiring drink 
test kits and creating incentives for drink covers in bars and nightclubs. 
 
The survey also collected anonymous student stories. One respondent shared, “A friend of mine 
was spiked at a party… It completely neutralized her joints and muscles, and she was unable to 
move. She also had no recollection of the night prior. She didn’t report it due to the fear of 
backlash.”

Agenda Item 5 – Presentation on Drink Covers (Shirah Benarde) 
NightCap is a nationwide company focused on proactive drink spiking prevention through 
marketable drink covers. Featured on Shark Tank, USA Today, Forbes, and Business Insider, 
NightCap was founded by Shirah Benarde in 2019 and has since sold over one million units 
across more than 200 universities. The company’s advocacy has contributed to anti-drink 
spiking laws in California, with similar legislation now under consideration in New York and 
Massachusetts. 
 
NightCap’s approach emphasizes ease of use and cost reduction for establishments. They 
propose using dispensers, similar to straw or napkin holders, where patrons can easily access 
low-cost sticker drink covers. These covers can also double as marketing tools for local 
businesses and events, helping offset costs for participating bars and restaurants. 
 
The company highlights the power of social media for awareness and public relations. A single 
NightCap post recently reached 1.4 million views, 1,126 comments, and 72,000 shares. 
NightCap offers both reusable scrunchie-style and disposable sticker drink covers and has 
partnered with major brands including Bumble, Uber, Twitch, and Grey Goose. 
 
Agenda Item 6 – Stakeholder & Staff Discussion 
Chair Keating turned the time over to any stakeholder or staff input not already addressed 
during the Council Subcommittee meeting. There was no additional input. 
 
Agenda Item 7 – Future Agenda Items 
Chair Keating asked that a presentation by representatives of the ASU student government be 
added to the next agenda. He also mentioned meeting with staff next week regarding the 
potential fiscal impact of an ordinance, and that could be an agenda item for the next meeting.  
 
Agenda Item 8 - Adjourn 
The next meeting will be held on Friday, Nov. 14. 
 
The meeting adjourned at 12:42 p.m. 
Prepared by:  Keaton Hill, Council Assistant, (480) 350-8463 
Reviewed by:  Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director, (480) 858-2215