By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-27 21:07:24 | Updated at 2024-10-27 23:35:05
2 hours ago
The owner of a popular celebrity-packed bar has broken his silence after several people claimed their drinks were spiked there.
Tristan Schukraft, the owner of The Abbey in West Hollywood, California, took to Instagram to address the 'wild conspiracy theories' about the 'safe space.'
Schukraft said that drink spiking 'is a widespread issue,' and not just 'something unique to us,' as he cited an Alcohol.org survey that found that 44 percent of men and 56 percent of women have 'unknowingly' had their food or drinks spiked.
He assured customers that if any staff at The Abbey, also known as 'The Best Gay Bar in the World,' witnesses anyone 'tampering with a drink, they are immediately removed, handed over to law enforcement and permanently banned.'
The owner's response comes after many unhappy customers went online and shared their alleged drink spiking stories at the famed bar.
The owner of the celebrity hotspot The Abbey took to Instagram to address claims that customers have been served spiked drinks at the West Hollywood bar
Tristan Schukraft, the owner, posted a video stating that drink spiking 'is a widespread issue,' and not just 'something unique to us'
One user posted a video to TiKTok in 2021 detailing her experience after going to The Abbey, stating she 'was shaking 30 mins after my 2nd drink at The Abbey.'
The woman added that she was 'projectile vomiting,' and 'couldn't control my body,' in the video that has since amassed 1.3 million views.
Meanwhile, several Reddit users have insisted they experienced similar symptoms after partying at the bar.
One person suggested that this has been going on for a long time, not just recently.
'More like 20+ years. Where there's smoke there's fire,' they wrote.
Another detailed their experience there from last year.
'Some friends of mine were roofied there in September. Broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon, didn't even finish their ONE drink.
'Blacked out and had to be carried out of the bar, thankfully by some friends who weren't drinking. The "they just make strong drinks" narrative is BS,' they said.
Another person claimed they were roofied at the bar in 2017.
'It was a Sunday afternoon and I had not had enough to drink to be intoxicated. The only person who had access to my drink was the bartender because the place was empty because it had just opened.
'I called their management office the next day to ask to see their security tapes. They claimed to see nothing on the tapes but I knew at that point that others had been drugged and assaulted there,' the customer wrote.
In the video, Schukraf said there was only one arrest made at the bar 'for the recent surge in drink spiking was because of our security team.'
A police report, obtained by KTLA5, confirmed a drink-spiking and sexual assault incident at The Abbey.
Security guards allegedly recognized the unnamed suspect from surveillance footage and handed them over to the police to be arrested the next day, according to the report.
Others took it upon themselves to investigate the bar - enjoyed by celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner,Snooki, and Cher - as one person brought up the establishment's online reviews.
'Yup their yelp reviews also clearly show this pattern,' they said.
The most recent spiking claim came from a detailed article written by The 19th, a non-profit news organization, in January of this year.
Since the bar opened up 33 years ago, many celebrities have enjoyed the nightlife there, including Cher, Caitlyn Jenner and Snooki, among others. (pictured: Singer Cher at The Abbey in June, 2024)
Schukraft also told people what to do if they think their drink has been tampered with, saying it should be reported immediately to the bar or law enforcement
The outlet shared dozens or stories as alleged victims, staff members, bartenders and law enforcement personnel shared their experience on the spate of drink spiking at the bar.
'More than 70 people interviewed by The 19th over the course of three years reported going to The Abbey and drinking well under what they felt was their usual limit — in some cases consuming only soda or water — and experiencing disorientation to varying degrees or losing consciousness,' the outlet said.
Despite the accusations, Schukraft remains confident in his bar as he told followers that even the state of California requires establishments to have drink testing strips for purchase, The Abbey provides them at no cost.
'They're available anytime, all you need to do is ask,' he said.
Schukraft also told people that if they believe their drink has been tampered with, it should be reported immediately to the bar or law enforcement.
He added that if customers want their drinks remade because they are 'unsure' about it, they can ask for a fresh one.
'If you believe you've consumed a spiked drink, please go to the hospital, get checked, or request a toxicology report.
'We'll be there to support you every step of the way,' Schukraft added.
