When you’re at a bar, rarely are you getting something for free from the bartender, let alone an unprompted bottle of water. For the most part you get a glass of tap and keep it pushin’.
That’s why this woman was perplexed by the handoff from her Applebee’s bartender, but commenters are pointing out that it may have been a subtle warning. Here’s what it could have meant.
Woman Questions Bottled Water
In a viral video with more than 669,000 views, musician Jenn Dean (@jenndeanmusic) shared a confusing experience she had at an Applebee’s bar.
“I’m at Applebee’s and the bartender (a man) just gave me a bottle of water when I asked but he gave the guy next to me a glass of water should I be worried?” text overlay on the video reads.
“Am I overthinking or is this weird?” she added in the caption.
In the comments, she provided additional details:
- She did not ask for a bottle of water. She just asked for water.
- The bottle was sealed.
- The bartender didn’t charge her for the bottle.
The man sitting next to her at the bar received a regular glass of water. That made the difference in service even more obvious.
Commenters Explain
The comment section quickly filled with people explaining what the bartender’s actions likely meant.
According to multiple commenters, the sealed bottled water was likely a safety signal. The bartender was potentially warning Jenn that someone nearby posed a threat. And by giving her a sealed bottle, he was ensuring her drink couldn’t be tampered with.
“It means someone not safe is near you,” a commenter wrote.
“I used to be a bouncer and the bar only does things like that if they get a weird vibe from other people at the bar. We cant throw people out for having a weird vibe to them. But we can take easy precautions around them,” a top comment read.
Unlike a glass of water that could be drugged or tampered with if left unattended, a sealed bottle provides protection. The bartender giving it to her for free, without her asking for it, suggested he was trying to help without drawing attention to the potential danger.
Others pointed out that by giving the man next to her a regular glass while giving Jenn a sealed bottle, the bartender was making it clear the warning was specifically for her, not a general thing they do.
Bar Safety Signals
According to WebstaurantStore, bars and restaurants have implemented discreet safety codes to help patrons in uncomfortable or dangerous situations. The most well-known is the “angel shot.” It was inspired by the U.K.’s “Ask for Angela” campaign.
When a customer orders an “angel shot,” they’re not asking for a drink. They’re signaling they need help. Different variations indicate the level of intervention needed.
- “Neat” means escort to car.
- “On ice” means call a ride.
- And “with lime” means call police immediately.
The Reality Of Drug-Facilitated Assault
According to RAINN, 12% of women over 18 in the U.S. reported being assaulted while incapacitated by drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives. Among college students, 11% of women and 3% of men reported being assaulted while incapacitated.
Alcohol is the most commonly detected substance in drug-facilitated sexual assault cases. But it’s not always voluntary consumption. Perpetrators often overpour drinks, pressure people to consume more than intended, or secretly add extra alcohol to make someone more vulnerable.
In a toxicology study of 1,000 drug-facilitated sexual assault cases cited by RAINN, 78.4% tested positive for at least one substance. Besides alcohol, benzodiazepines and cannabis are most commonly detected.
NPR reports that drugging is an understudied but significant problem. Research shows about 1 in 13 college students saying they had been drugged. Signs someone may have been drugged include difficulty breathing, feeling drunk despite little alcohol consumption, blurred vision, nausea, and memory loss.
RAINN emphasizes that if you suspect you’ve been drugged, time is critical. These substances often leave the body within 12 to 72 hours. Save urine in a clean container, avoid showering if possible, and seek medical help immediately.
Commenters React
“Someone was giving that bartender bad vibes. They’re trying to protect you without risking their job,” a person said.
“He gave you a sealed container he doesn’t trust someone near you but doesn’t have anything solid enough to kick them out for,” another wrote.
“My first thought was, he knew a creep was nearby, and with a bottle you could close it and no one could slip anything in it. that’s how my paranoid brain works lol,” a commenter added.
BroBible reached out to Jenn Dean for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message and to Applebee’s via email.