Denver bartender agrees to take a shot with a customer on St. Patrick’s Day and ends up getting her arm licked out of nowhere: ‘I blacked out’
I’d think about that forever.
St. Patrick’s Day weekend is notorious for high energy and questionable choices. But getting your arm licked by a random woman? That can’t be on anybody’s bingo card.
Denver-based bartender Gabriella (TikTok/@gabriellamasseran) opened up about how one customer took the St. Patrick’s Day spirit to an highly unsanitary extreme in her bar. While recapping her shift in a video, Gabriella detailed the bizarre encounter. And brace yourself, it shifted from a friendly toast to a physical boundary violation in a matter of seconds.
A St. Patrick’s Day celebratory pickle shot took a bizarre turn
The incident began when a female customer asked Gabriella to join her for a shot. Gabriella, happy to oblige, grabbed two glasses and prepared for a standard “cheers.”
However, as she reached out, the woman skipped the traditional glass-clink entirely. Instead, the customer grabbed Gabriella’s hand and licked all the way up her arm before finally consuming her own drink. “I’m standing here continuously like this because I’m like, ‘What is going on?’” Gabriella recalled, still visibly stunned by the lack of consent.
The bartender was left reeling from the ‘violation’
Gabriella was particularly baffled by the logic of the act. She noted that they weren’t even having tequila shots that would require salt from a hand. “I was having a pickle shot! What the f—k, man?” she exclaimed, pointing out that there was zero context for the customer to turn her arm into an appetizer.
The shock was so intense that Gabriella admitted she briefly “blacked out” from disbelief. She said “okay” and walked away to process the fact that she had just been licked by a total stranger.
Gender shouldn’t excuse a lack of boundaries, even if it’s St. Patrick’s Day
Gabriella admitted that the situation would have been “a whole separate issue” if the customer had been a man. But, she also maintained that being a “chick” didn’t make the act any less of a violation. She urged customers to use common sense and, at the very least, ask before engaging in physical contact with staff.
Beyond the personal discomfort, Gabriella raised valid hygiene concerns. She explained that she already avoids shaking hands because she sees how many patrons leave the restroom without washing up. “Licking a bartender’s hand?” she asked, calling for a return to professional distance.
The hygiene risks of saliva-based contact in bars
Physical contact between staff and patrons in a food and beverage environment is a significant health concern. Human saliva can carry a variety of pathogens. For a bartender who handles glassware and garnishes, having a customer lick their arm creates an immediate risk of cross-contamination.
Gabriella’s refusal to shake hands is a common professional boundary used to maintain a sanitary workspace. When a customer bypasses that boundary with a lick, it forces the employee to immediately leave their post to sanitize. This disrupts the flow of service while also compromising safety protocols.
How to maintain professional boundaries behind the bar?
If you find yourself facing an over-familiar customer like Gabriella did, don’t let yourself “black out.” To protect your space, you can create a ‘cheers’ buffer. Hold your shot glass firmly and keep your other hand behind your back or on the inner edge of the bar to limit reachable surface area.
Also vocalize boundaries immediately. If a customer reaches for your hand or arm, a polite but firm “I don’t do physical contact at work” can stop an incident before it happens.
Like Gabriella, if a violation occurs, walk away to wash and sanitize yourself. Inform security or management so they can monitor the patron’s behavior for the rest of the night.
And remember, you are never required to take a shot or engage in “drinking culture” with a customer. A “no thank you” is a complete sentence in a professional setting. Because “weird s—t” does happen when the green beer starts flowing.
While Gabriella walked away with a wild story for her followers, her experience proves bartenders deserve a little more respect. And a lot more personal space.
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