'Girls Night In': what is 'drink & needle' spiking that UK women are protesting

Young women across the U.K. boycotted nightclubs and pubs as university towns and cities joined a national "girls night in" protest after increasing reports of drink spiking and students being drugged by needle injections.

The online campaign, which has gained momentum in cities including Manchester, Bristol, Brighton and Nottingham, wants to raise awareness about women's safety and demand more urgent action by the government and nightclubs to prevent "date rape" drugs from being brought into clubs.

"Girls Night In" accounts organizing boycotts in British cities this week have gathered thousands of followers on social media.

The protests came after a sharp rise in recent months of reports of drink spiking and needle "spiking" -- where women report being injected with drugs in the back or in the leg at nightclubs -- as students return to campuses after a long spell away due to the coronavirus pandemic.