Woman goes up to Colorado bartender. Then she orders an angel shot

Bar and restaurant staff pick up on many unspoken signals over the course of a shift. From couples fighting to a group of friends that drank too much, it's these workers' job to pay attention to customer dynamics.

Some signals are even deliberately built into the industry itself. Restaurant and bar workers are raising awareness of codes that exist so a customer can ask for help without anyone else at their table knowing.

‘You're going to have me right at your table'

Colorado restaurant owner Zane (@insidezanesbrain) shared a recent incident at his bar involving a woman who needed help. His video has since accumulated more than 42,000 views.

“Last night, we had a lady go up to my bar and order an angel shot,” Zane said. “It is a way to alert the staff of a restaurant or bar that you're uncomfortable, and you don't feel safe with the date or the person you're with.”

Zane said staff approached the woman's table. After they asked the man to leave, he did so “without any problem,” which is apparently quite rare.

“Usually they're like, ‘What the [expletive] are you talking about?'” Zane said. “We just asked him to leave, and he just left. Not always the way that goes down.”

Zane urged his viewers to learn from this anecdote, encouraging anyone who doesn't remember the “angel shot” code to simply say something directly to staff instead.

“If I hear that at my restaurant, you're going to have me right at your table, along with all the men that work for me, ready to protect you,” he finished. “So please, if you feel uncomfortable, say something …  And if it's my restaurant, we're going to be right there, ready to protect you. You predators out there… That's all I got to say.”

@insidezanesbrain Do you know what an angel shot is? ##restaurant##bar##safety##protection##predator ♬ original sound – Zane.

Where does the term ‘angel shot' come from?

According to Know Your Meme, the angel shot traces back to a 2016 UK safety campaign called “Ask for Angela.” Lincolnshire's Women's Aid originally launched the campaign.

Ask for Angela encouraged bar patrons who felt unsafe to approach staff and ask for a fictional person named “Angela.” Staff were trained to recognize and act on this cue, typically by helping the guest exit or arranging safe transportation.

The concept spread to America later that year when, according to CNN, a bar in Hermosa Beach, California, adopted a version of the code.

“A sign in the women's bathroom [alerts] female patrons that they can discreetly ask for help if they're in a bad situation,” CNN reports. “The words ‘Date Gone Wrong?' are written in bold at the top, followed by instructions for ordering an ‘angel shot' — it's a code, signaling to the bartender to help.”

As the code spread across U.S. bars, it evolved into the drink-order format that's widespread today. Now, some bars have introduced specific variations indicating different levels of urgency. According to BinWise, an angel shot “on the rocks” is typically a request for staff to call a taxi, while ordering one “with lime” signals that staff should call the police.

Buzz News has reached out to Zane via TikTok comment.