Rapture Nightclub slammed over response to drink spike claim
Peta Rasdien and Phil HickeyThe West Australian
Monday, 7 October 2019 9:51AM
Shantel Smith approached Rapture Nightclub with her claim that her drink was spiked, but it is their response which has created a wave of outrage. Credit: Instagram/shantelsmith
A Perth nightclub has been slammed for its heartless response to a woman’s claim that her drink was drugged, asking if she was “worth” someone spiking her drink.
In a post circulating widely across Facebook and Twitter, a private message from Shantel Smith to the club a week after she claimed her drink was spiked, the former Newman College student suggested the nightclub increase its security.
But it is club manager Neil Scott’s response that has incensed people across social media and sparked calls for the club to be shut down.
In a screenshot of a private message, he asked: “What proof do you have of your drink being spiked. Why would anyone want to spike your drink?”
“Did you attend a hospital and have your stomach pumped for evidence? Is this something you and your friends experience regularly? Would you like a crowd controller to hold your drink the next time you attend a nightclub?
“Do you think ten crowd controllers would be able to stop you having your drink spiked? Are you worth someone trying to spike your drink?
“We think this is a beat up and we believe that no one would be stupid enough to waste their drugs on spiking anyone’s drink.”
The message circulating on Facebook Credit: Facebook
Mr Scott admitted on ABC radio this morning that he could have worded his response better but continued to rubbish Ms Smith’s claims that her drink was spiked.
“We had 14 staff on duty, at no time did any of the staff hear about a drink being spiked,” Mr Scott said.
“She attended the nightclub for two hours and 55 minutes, she arrived at 10.58pm…and then she came out at 2.53am.
“There was no chance that she had a drink spiked, it was just an 18-year-old girl being silly.
Mr Scott said when Ms Smith left the nightclub at 2.53am, she stood outside for another eight minutes with her friends dancing in front of the nightclub and then walked off.
“It was just absolute rubbish that she had her drink spiked, there was no chance,” Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott said his response was tongue-in-cheek.
“She decided to post it and of course it’s gone viral,” he said.
“I guess that in this instance it was wrong, but nevertheless it’s been done now it can’t be taken back.”
Ms Smith has drawn support across social media.
The online run-in has triggered a sharp backlash with the nightclub’s Facebook page overrun with angry comments.
A change.org petition which calls for the nightclub to be shut down has attracted around 8000 signatures.
“We believe that this venue has failed to represent the values or the interests of the people of Perth. We are asking for this venue to be closed down and turned into either a shelter for the homeless or a women's refuge,” Trent Young, who started the petition wrote.
Ms Smith said the club’s response was “absolutely disgusting” and urged people to avoid the club at all costs.
She said she had only two to three drinks before she arrived at the club, she bought one drink at the bar and was “unconscious for the next 2.5 hours” vomiting and experiencing other symptoms common to a date rape drug.
“Luckily I have good friends who were looking after me but not everyone can be that lucky.”
Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said some of Mr Scott’s comments about the incident had been disappointing.
“I think at the very least a nightclub owner … needs to give patrons the benefit of the doubt and understand the particular responsibility they’ve got to look after the welfare of their patrons,” she said.
“I think she deserves to have her claim investigated, I’ve had women come and see me in my electorate office who are concerned they have had their drink spiked.
“It is actually quite difficult to get the matter investigated in that you don’t realise until sometime after that might be what had occurred.”
On Monday morning a police spokeswoman said: “At this time the woman has not reported the incident to police.”
