Instead of ordering an angel shot because you want a drink, it’s a request for the bartender that has a much different meaning. After all, while it may seem like you’re giving the bartender a drink order, you’re actually giving them a coded message. So, what is an angel shot?

What does an “angel shot” mean?

Asking for an angel shot at the bar is a way to let the bartender know that you are feeling unsafe with a stranger or a bad date and need help. According to Urban Dictionary, “A guest in a bar or restaurant who’s having a bad first date or a bad time with someone they just met can order an Angel Shot to signal to the bartender or server they need assistance.”

What happens after ordering an angel shot at the bar?

Not all bartenders may be aware of an angel shot’s meaning. However, many bartenders and servers are very familiar. Meagen Herbison, a bar supervisor who’s worked in the industry for 12 years throughout eastern Michigan, made sure to train her staff on angel shots, saying, “I needed to ensure that my staff was properly trained and prepared to recognize and handle a situation in which a guest may not feel safe without causing a scene or tipping off the person(s) making the guest(s) feel uneasy.” Herbison continues, “The top priority and first step is to separate the victim(s) from the aggressor(s) as quickly and smoothly as possible. This can be done by inventing a fake scenario and getting the patrons to follow along in one way or another.” Depending on the specific situation, certain fake scenarios could be more effective than others. Herbison suggests ideas like “tell whoever paid the tab that there is a problem with their card and you need them to come to the end of the bar to sort it out, [or] pretend that you recognize the victim because they ‘used to work here’ and invite them back into the kitchen, claiming the kitchen staff would love to say hi.”

What is an “angel shot with lime”?

If you’re in a situation where you’re not just feeling uncomfortable/unsafe and needing an out, but something has happened where you’re in need of police or security’s presence, ask your bartender for an angel shot with lime.  Herbison suggests having security personnel or management “approach the aggressor and tell them they need to step outside because their car is being towed. [Then] have security, and if necessary, police waiting outside.”

Where did the angel shot code name originate?

According to Urban Dictionary, it appears that this trend began at a bar in Florida called the Iberian Rooster back in 2016, where a message was posted in the women’s bathroom informing patrons to use the term “angel shot” if they needed help. Since then, many other bars and restaurants have followed suit.

Does the angel shot code really work?

Although ordering an angel shot at the bar is an incredible tool to help with safety, unfortunately, it isn’t a guarantee that every bartender is aware of its meaning. Having worked in restaurants and bars for 15 years, Simon Anderson, a bartender and server from Ann Arbor, Michigan, shares, “I have heard of angel shots, but I have never been formally trained to work with angel shots in a bar or restaurant setting.” Herbison first learned about angel shots as a bartender and server herself, thanks to a Facebook group dedicated to service staff. She had wondered at the time, “For something that was so prevalent in the bar business, how had we not been trained on this?” However, that being said, it’s absolutely worth knowing about and using if you are in a situation that warrants getting help—or stepping in to assist someone else if you overhear them using the term. “I personally have never had anyone order an angel shot from me,” Herbison says. “But I have witnessed incidents that could have been prevented had the guest known to speak up and had the staff been properly trained.”

Other opportunities to ask for help

“The majority of restaurant and bar staff are very keen observers,” Anderson says. “In that regard, the best advice I can give patrons is to reach out to their servers or bartenders in any way that they can imagine… Even if the bar or restaurant doesn’t have signs promoting angel shots, I think there should be a number of ways to indicate distress.” Herbison agrees, and offers helpful suggestions like writing a short note on a receipt or napkin, telling a staff member while you’re on the way to the restroom (or when the aggressor is using the restroom), or “making your aggressor believe that there is something wrong with your food/drink and telling them you are going to take it to a staff member to get it replaced.”

While you’re out, keep in mind some tried and true safety measures like never leaving your drink unattended, having a plan for a ride home (that doesn’t involve someone you’re meeting for the first time) and keeping a close friend or family member in the loop in real-time via text. 

Sources

Simon Anderson, bartender and server in Ann Arbor, MichiganMeagen Herbison, bar supervisor in eastern Michigan