Mickey Finn (inventor)

A Mickey Finn, sometimes called a "Mickey," is a slang term for a drink laced with a psychoactive drug, especially a sedative or hypnotic, given to someone without their knowledge or consent with the intent to incapacitate them.

The origin of the term is often attributed to Mickey Finn, a bartender (and later owner) who operated the Lone Star Saloon and Palm Garden Restaurant in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finn was rumored to routinely drug patrons, either to rob them or to facilitate their impressment into service on ships or other undesirable jobs.

While the existence of the historical Mickey Finn is documented, and reports of drugging incidents at his establishment were prevalent, the precise nature of the drugs he allegedly used, and the extent of his involvement, remain largely unsubstantiated and shrouded in legend. Accounts from the time are often sensationalized and lack definitive proof. Some suggest that chloral hydrate ("knockout drops") was the most common substance employed, but other substances have also been theorized.

The term "Mickey Finn" quickly entered the lexicon as a generic term for any drugged drink, regardless of the specific substance used or the perpetrator. The practice is illegal and considered a serious assault.