How This Under 30-Founded Drink Spiking Prevention Tool Landed A Spot On Forever 21 Shelves

As dry January comes to a close, many are facing the decision to stick with water for the long haul or opt for a beer, wine or mixed drink come February 1. But no matter the beverage, this brother-sister duo wants to make sure you’re imbibing safely.

Michael and Shirah Benarde are the cofounders of NightCap, and earned a spot on the 2024 Under 30 Retail & Ecommerce list. NightCap sells hair scrunchies that unfold into drink covers to prevent roofies and other unwanted substances from being dropped in a cup. The idea was born in 2019, when Shirah says her friend was roofied at a college bar and a few weeks later, Shirah had a dream that she could prevent it with a new invention. The next morning, she turned a scrunchie of her own and a pair of her mom’s pantyhose into the first prototype.

“We surveyed 100 women when we started the company and 26% of them said they had their drinks spiked,” says Shirah, 21. “Realizing that it was a problem, that's how we market it now: It's a fun solution to a serious problem.”