A health store has started selling what is believed to be the first easy to use test to find out if your drink has been spiked with "date rape" drugs.

If GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate) or Ketamine are applied to a drink, a test strip will change colour when a few drops of the liquid are applied.

However, it won't test against one of the most commonly known date rape drugs, Rohypnol.

Jane Dier, the owner of Rock-On health store is selling the kits because she is worried both men and women could fall victim to the odourless, colourless drugs, which can knock out a victim, make them lose their memory, or even kill them.

She revealed that club owners in Bermuda have said men are using them on other men as a prank to see how they will react.

"I really feel it is important (to test drinks) even if it is not really prevalent here because a lot of kids will be coming home from the holidays from England or the US where it is a huge problem," she said.

"I saw it featured in Time magazine and I thought it might be useful in Bermuda because these sort of things are going on.

"The danger is not just to women, because club owners have told me that men are using it on other men, not to rape them, but to see how they act when taking it.

"I hope a lot of people will buy it to protect themselves because a lot of people think it will not happen to them."

She said she had spoken to Supt. Larry Smith, the head of the Police narcotics department, who said date rape drugs were not a problem, although they were available.

The kits are called the Date Rape Drug Test Strip, and they are $12 for a pack of 20, and $2 for a pack of two.

Mrs. Dier only received the consignment on December 23, so she has not sold any yet.

She said she asked various bars and clubs if they wanted to stock them on their premises, but so far none have.

"I think they are afraid it will make it seem as though they know it is going on in their establishment, but I thought it would be great for them to give their customers a feeling that they are protecting them."

She explained that the kits do not work well on red wine or milky drinks such as Bailey's Irish Cream.

And they cannot detect Rohyponol tablets because the manufacturer had already moderated the legal drug to make it change the colour and taste of a drink if is spiked.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration has targeted dealers and users of GHB - which is popular at rave parties - and GBL (gamma butyrolactone), which has been used in sex attacks.

When they are used to spike drinks, including sodas, they can knock out the victim and cause seizures, respiratory depression, hallucinations, coma and death.