Knockout drops at the Oktoberfest: This is how dangerous partying can be!

Knockout drops at the Oktoberfest: This is how dangerous partying can be!

There was a shocking incident on the first weekend of Oktoberfest in Munich that sparked heated discussions. Charlotte Kuffler, the daughter of Oktoberfest host Stephan Kuffler, reported a frightening experience that she and two friends had on her birthday. In the crowd they briefly lost track of things and found themselves in a threatening situation. Suddenly all three felt extremely bad when they found themselves in the women's toilet. Charlotte experienced a memory lapse and only remembered calling her mother, who then picked her and her friends up and brought them home. At first she was ashamed because she thought they had simply consumed too much alcohol. But later she realized the strange coincidence that all three fell ill at the same time. “It’s scary that something like this can happen anywhere, even in my father’s wine tent,” said Kuffler and urged caution: “I will be even more careful with my drinks in the future.”

Unfortunately, the dangers of knockout drops are real. These odorless, colorless and tasteless substances are often secretly mixed into drinks and can be life-threatening. Women and girls in particular are often affected because they have little ability to defend themselves in these moments. The main ingredients include gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma butyrolactone (GBL), also known as “liquid ecstasy”. While GHB is subject to the Narcotics Act, GBL is mostly sold as a solvent. In small amounts, these substances have a disinhibiting effect, while large amounts can lead to anesthesia and, in the worst case, even death. Symptoms of poisoning are varied, ranging from dizziness and nausea to unconsciousness and memory loss, making it difficult for victims to report incidents. T online points out that the substances are occasionally placed unnoticed in drinks at festival events.

Signs and precautions

The signs of intoxication often fall into the category of euphoria to fatigue to loss of control to memory problems. The best defense against these insidious drugs is protective behavior. Drinks should never be left unattended and you should always pay attention to where they come from. The police and bar staff should be informed immediately if knockout drops are suspected. In the worst case scenario, it is advisable to go to the hospital immediately. In addition, a German start-up has developed a bracelet to detect GHB, but other knockout drops cannot be detected with it.

The issue is particularly urgent because the Federal Ministry for Women, Families and Youth in Austria has launched an extensive information campaign about knockout drugs. This campaign aims to raise awareness and combat violence against women and girls. It's alarming that loud BMFWF Every third woman in Austria aged 15 and over is affected by physical or sexual violence. Often it is both strangers and acquaintances who commit such acts. This makes it all the more important to create awareness of these dangers.

The exciting festivities of Oktoberfest should not be overshadowed by such incidents. However, it remains essential to draw attention to the problem of knockout drops and to put safety first. Charlotte Kuffler hopes her story will raise awareness among other young women without losing the fun of partying.