Ordering an “Angel Shot” at a Bar Could Potentially Save Your Life

Dating in this day and age can involve meeting a lot of frogs along the way, but we know some of those frogs can be brazen, creepy, or a non-charming breed of weird. Meeting a charming stranger, chatting, and going out isn’t a road always paved with butterflies and good intentions, but there’s a small fix.

Though they’ve been trying to keep it on the hush-hush, bars and restaurants all over the globe are secretly helping women out. Since they’re so used to seeing dates headed in a bad direction, staff have come up with a crafty way to steer females out of iffy situations: code words.

The Iberian Rooster restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida gleaned an idea from a U.K. rape crisis center that teamed up with local bars. When a lady feels unsafe during a date, she can order an “Angel Shot” at the bar, which is a code for help. A sign hung in the ladies’ bathroom lets them know about the discreet system that can be used for meetups.

The quiet campaign has taken root. A Hooters restaurant in South Africa was also spotted with an “Angel Shots” sign on their restroom door. In the U.K., crisis center posters urge women to ‘Ask for Angela’ if they feel they’re in an uncomfortable situation. Here’s an example of what’s on pub bathroom signs:

“Are you on a date that isn’t working out? Is your Tinder or POF [Plenty of Fish] date not who they said they were on their profile? Do you feel like you’re not in a safe situation? Does it all feel a bit weird? If you go to the bar and ask for ‘Angela,’ the bar staff will know you need help getting out of your situation and will call you a taxi or help you out discreetly — without too much fuss.”

Watch the video to find out exactly how it works. In this case, a woman can either approach the bartender to place the order or tell her server on the sly.

Okay ladies, we’re used to texting a friend or relative to give us a fake emergency call to squirm out of a date. There’s also the occasional “I’m not feeling well, I think I’ll head home.” Guys do it too. Have you ever been out clubbing with friends and had a stranger buy you a drink? Sometimes that person feels like they own your time for the rest of night, and other times, something gets slipped in that drink. Scenarios like those often have tragic outcomes, including stalking, assault, or robbery.

With dating apps making it a cinch to link up with complete strangers, there’s a lot of risk involved. Old fashioned blind dates can suddenly become eye-opening too. But when you’re getting bad vibes from a new “friend” or a night of partying and revelry turns scary, it’s good to know there’s someone there to intercede.

Here’s to hoping for better date nights! Were you ever on a date that went left and required intervention? What do you think about this code and have you ever ordered an Angel Shot? Share with us in the comments!