Anti-spiking solution Bevgardien launches in UK
Bevgardien, a single-use drinks cover designed to meet the growing demand for safety, hygiene and sustainability, has debuted in the UK on-trade.
Distributed by Amber Beverage UK and co-founded by entrepreneur George Rowley and his son, Will Rowley, Bevgardien is positioned as ‘the next generation of drinks covers’.
It has several features aimed at tackling three key consumer and industry concerns: spiking, hygiene, and spill protection.
The cover is compatible with a wide range of open vessels, including glasses, RTD (ready-to-drink) bottles, and cans, making it a versatile solution for bars, clubs and festivals.
According to charity Drinkaware’s Drink Spiking Report, 2.2% of UK adults reported having their drinks spiked in 2023, equating to approximately 1.2 million incidents.
In the same year, more incidents of drinks spiking occurred in bars (41%) and clubs (28%) than anywhere else.
With heightened awareness around drinks spiking, Bevgardien has partnered with SpikeAwareUK.org to support the wider anti-spiking movement with its product, which has been designed using conservation charity WWF’s sustainability guide.
Bevgardien is working in partnership with the National Union of Students (NUS) to roll out the product and drive awareness of its safety and sustainability credentials within the student community. As such, the launch has been timed to coincide with Freshers’ Week across the UK – a period when students are particularly vulnerable to drink-related incidents.
George Rowley said: “We designed Bevgardien to reflect our values and give consumers peace of mind, while helping venues show care and responsibility.
“Working with the NUS, supporting WWF, and partnering with SpikeAwareUK.org demonstrates that safety and sustainability can go hand in hand.
“Each cover doubles as an information and resource portal, with a QR code linking to anti-spiking resources, while our MPB programme gives larger clients the opportunity to personalise designs.
“Every bar station box includes educational posters to help venues spread the word: ‘Own/Gard/Drink’.”
Joe Walsh, venues manager at Imperial College Union, London, said he was “very impressed with the sustainability and functionality” of Bevgardien, calling it “an improvement on what has come before in such an important issue. Practical for staff and clear for students and guests.”
The product incorporates UV-reactive elements, which improve visibility in late-night venues and aid CCTV monitoring, further enhancing consumer protection.
The adhesive system represents a step-change in design. By placing adhesive only on the circumference of the cover, Bevgardien ensures the underside never comes into contact with the drink itself, maintaining FDA and EU/UK compliance while keeping beverages uncontaminated.
Four adhesive tabs provide secure fastening, which seeks to give consumers and operators confidence in the product’s reliability.
George added: “Venues are looking for a sustainable solution that fits real service. Bevgardien is simple for bartenders, reassuring for guests and credible for management when combined with training and good venue policies.”
Made from FSC-certified paper and printed with water-based inks, adhesives, and varnishes, Bevgardien is designed with sustainability and recyclability in mind.
Furthermore, its durable construction prevents spillages and allows drinks to be stacked one on top of another – a feature that underscores its development as a product ‘by drinks industry professionals, for the drinks industry’.
The covers come in bar station dispensing boxes, each of which holds 100 units and has built-in legs that keep the packs elevated and protected from spills on wet bar tops.
Bevgardien is available now to bars, clubs, festivals, student unions and hospitality groups across the UK, with international rollout planned.
Trade pricing, samples, POS and training materials are available with each bar station dispensing box purchase. To order, contact your Amber Beverage UK account manager or email sales.uk@amberbev.com.
Last year Red Snapper Learning was enlisted by the UK government to deliver spiking prevention training to on-trade staff.
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