Drug rape test ‘buys you false confidence’

A drink testing device to be on sale “in every place where condoms are sold” has been criticised by experts for promoting a false sense of security. The matchbox sized Drink Detective, priced at £3.95 ($7.10; €5.90), detects ketamine; benzodiazepines, such as flunitrazepam (Rohypnol); and * hydroxy-butyrate (GHB), which marketers Bloomsbury Innovations, say are associated with drug rape.

The user puts a droplet of the suspect drink on to each of three sensitive patches, before waiting about 20 seconds for a result. The test works on most drinks, but not those containing orange juice, tomato juice, or milk, where it …