DRUG-TESTING COASTERS QUESTIONED

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Colleges around the country are buying millions of
coasters that test for "date-rape" drugs in drinks. But some experts
say the coasters are ineffective and could lead to more assaults by
creating a false sense of security.

The manufacturers say the 40-cent paper coasters are 95 percent
accurate. The coasters have test spots that are supposed to turn dark
blue in about 30 seconds if a splash of alcohol contains drugs often
used to incapacitate victims.

In tests at the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, however, the coasters
failed to react clearly to drinks spiked with gamma hydroxybutyrate, a
major date-rape drug known as GHB, said forensic scientist Anne Gierlowski.

"We tested red wine, cola, whiskey and orange juice and because three
out of the four have color already, it was very hard to decipher a
color change," she said. "It's a nice idea, but it's probably a nicer
idea for the people selling them because they've probably made a lot
of money."

Plantation, Fla.-based Drink Safe Technologies Inc. has sold about 50
million of the coasters since March, mostly to colleges and
convenience stores, said president Francisco Guerra.

Guerra likens the coasters to condoms: While not 100 percent safe and
effective, they are a good prevention tool.

"I've had 100 people say this saved them from getting raped," said
Guerra, a former magician. "Before me, there was no way to detect it.
It's nice to be able to do something about it."

The coasters' labels promise they will help "identify the presence of
illicit drugs in beverages." But in response to questions, co-inventor
Brian Glover, a New York dentist who dabbles in chemistry,
acknowledged that the coasters can identify just two of the many
date-rape drugs - GHB and ketamine.

There are 36 drugs on the street classified as date-rape drugs, too
many for police tests to detect, said Trinka Porrata, a retired
detective who is an authority on GHB.