National Council starts information campaign against knockout drops!

National Council starts information campaign against knockout drops!

Österreich - On July 11, 2025, the National Council unanimously adopted an initiative for information offensive to protect against knockout drops. This measure takes place against the background of a worrying increase in violence that is related to the knockout drop, which are secretly mixed into drinks. Although K.-O. drops are legally prohibited, the trade with these drugs, especially on the Internet, reports [ots.at].

The new information offensive is intended to help clarify women and girls about the dangers of knockout drops. The Minister of Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner calls on a five-party application to have talks with organizers of big events and ticket sales offices. The aim is to establish effective protective measures and to raise awareness of the risks. Youth emphasizes that K.-O.-means can be stimulating in low dose, but can be anesthetic in higher doses and can even be fatal.

dangers and symptoms

k.-o. drops are colorless and odorless and can be administered in drinks of women and girls to rape them. Symptoms of K.-O. Middle poisoning include sudden dizziness, nausea, difficulties of perception and amnesia-like gaps in memory. Victims can be brought to other places in a willless state. Additional protection measures How to do not drink from unknown and be careful in your own drinks decisive to minimize the risk.

The Minister of Frauen and several MPs described the application of K.-O. drops as "absolutely cowardly" and "massive threat". According to Sabine Schatz from the SPÖ, there is a worrying increase in incidents, while Henrike Brandstötter from the NEOS determines an increase in the advertisements. It is generally emphasized that the guilt lies with the perpetrators who give these funds and that a complaint is crucial to prevent future attacks.

protective measures for events

criticism came from the Greens who criticized the orientation of the information campaign. They also call for mandatory protection concepts for events and restaurants to deter perpetrators. Rosa Ecker from the FPÖ urgently warned of the ubiquitous danger of being mixed in the drink and emphasized the need to provide sufficient education.

prevention work is essential to effectively counter violence against women and girls. This includes not only the information about the dangers of knockout drops, but also the sensitization of the staff in clubs and bars in order to address disoriented persons and offer them help. The demands for creating a security concept aim to deter the perpetrators and increase the feeling of security of the visitors.

The information offensive on the subject of K.-O. Mittels is viewed as an important initiative that should not only serve the education, but also wants to promote preventive measures to prevent sexual violence. The ongoing discussions and planned discussions with various actors are the basis for a comprehensive strategy against this social problem.